Band 5.5 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 5.5 · Cambridge IELTS 19 · 2026-08-19

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 5.5)

Dear Mr. Shah,

I am really appreciating with working under your mentorship in your company. I would like to request about duration working hours.

I have given additional responsibility of work which causing me in study. Duration of my working hours is normally 8:00 hours per day. It should drag me till 10 hours. Because of this reason I could not able to concentrate in my part-time study. Because of this I always been late and tired while studying. This study has been stated last month only. I am requesting to allow me to work till 10:00 am to 6;00 pm . So I can study part-time. It should help company to enhance technical skill of tool which we are using currently.

I will wait for your positive reply as soon as possible. After completion of study I would cover it with additional duty and responsibility.

Thanking you,

Jignesh chavda

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 5.5

The letter addresses all three bullet points: the reason for the request, the proposed hours, and the benefit to the employer. However, the development of these ideas is quite limited. The explanation of why the studies benefit the company is vague, stating only that it will 'enhance technical skill of tool'. The tone is generally appropriate for a formal letter, but the lack of detail makes the argument less persuasive. To improve, you should provide more specific examples of how your new skills will directly contribute to your current role or team projects.

Coherence and Cohesion — Band 5.5

The letter is organized into logical paragraphs, which helps the reader follow the request. However, the use of cohesive devices is somewhat mechanical and occasionally inaccurate. For example, the repeated use of 'Because of this' at the start of consecutive sentences creates a repetitive flow. Additionally, some transitions between ideas are abrupt, such as the jump from discussing study fatigue to proposing specific working hours. Using a wider variety of linking words like 'consequently', 'furthermore', or 'in light of this' would improve the overall flow and logical progression of your argument.

Lexical Resource — Band 5.5

The vocabulary is adequate for the task but lacks precision and variety. There are several instances of awkward phrasing, such as 'I am really appreciating with working' and 'I have given additional responsibility of work'. These errors in collocation and word choice occasionally make the meaning slightly unclear. To reach a higher band, focus on using more natural collocations and professional business terminology. For instance, instead of 'duration working hours', use 'working schedule' or 'contracted hours'. Expanding your range of vocabulary will help you express your professional needs more effectively.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 5.0

The response contains a mix of simple and some attempted complex structures, but there are frequent grammatical errors that occasionally impede communication. Issues include incorrect verb forms ('I am really appreciating'), missing articles ('enhance technical skill of tool'), and punctuation errors (e.g., '10:00 am to 6;00 pm'). The sentence structure is often fragmented, which affects the clarity of your request. To improve, focus on subject-verb agreement and the correct use of prepositions. Proofreading for basic errors like missing articles and incorrect punctuation marks will significantly enhance the professional quality of your writing.

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

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