Band 6.0 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 6.0 · Cambridge IELTS 19 · 2026-08-18

IELTS Writing Task 1 question

You would like to reduce your working hours in order to study part time.

Write a letter to your boss. In your letter

• explain why you want to reduce your working hours
• say which hours you would like to work
• describe how your part-time studies would benefit your employer

You do NOT need to write any addresses.

Begin your letter as follows:

Dear ....................................,

Student answer (Band 6.0)

Dear manager,

I hope you are doing well. I am writing to formally bring to your attention that I want you to decrease my shift hours, as I am planning to study part time that occured starting september.

To begin with, I am planning to complete my degree and the reason for this i will not be able to work full time, as I have to focus on my studies too. Despite i will work 24 hours and will give my full contribution while on the shift.

As a result, I would like to work on weekends and Thursday and Friday, As others day i have my classes and want to give the rest of the time to do self-study and complete the homework. Moreover, the notice is a little short, but I want to study further and have already applied for my course.

In light to above, I respectfully request you to approve my request for a reduction in working hours. Also somehow my study gonna benefit our organization, as i am studying marketing so i can imply my studies rules on our business, which will help to grow the business in future. I would appreciate if you approve my request, in accordance with your service policy.

Your Sincerly

Isha Goyal

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 6.5

The letter addresses all three bullet points required by the prompt. You clearly explain the reason for the request, specify the desired working hours, and describe the potential benefits to the employer. The tone is generally appropriate for a formal letter to a manager. However, some ideas are slightly under-developed; for instance, the explanation of how your marketing studies will benefit the company is a bit vague. To reach a higher band, ensure that your arguments are more fully extended with specific examples or clearer logical links to the business context.

Coherence and Cohesion — Band 6.0

The letter is logically organized into paragraphs, each serving a clear purpose. You use some cohesive devices such as 'To begin with', 'As a result', and 'Moreover' to guide the reader. However, the use of these devices is sometimes mechanical or slightly awkward, such as 'In light to above'. Additionally, some transitions between sentences are a bit abrupt. Improving the variety and natural flow of your linking words would enhance the overall coherence of your writing.

Lexical Resource — Band 6.0

You demonstrate an adequate range of vocabulary for the task, using terms like 'formally', 'contribution', and 'organization'. However, there are several instances of imprecise word choice and minor errors, such as 'occured starting september' (should be 'starting in September') and 'imply my studies rules' (should be 'apply the principles I have studied'). These errors do not impede communication, but they do limit the precision of your expression. Expanding your vocabulary to include more professional collocations would be beneficial.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 5.5

You attempt a mix of simple and complex sentence structures, which is good. However, there are frequent grammatical errors throughout the text, such as 'Despite i will work' (should be 'Although I will work'), 'As others day' (should be 'As on other days'), and 'somehow my study gonna benefit' (should be 'my studies will benefit'). These errors are noticeable and occasionally affect the flow of the letter. To improve, focus on subject-verb agreement, correct preposition usage, and avoiding informal contractions like 'gonna'.

See this exact question answered at other band scores — the same prompt compared across bands.

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