Band 6.5 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 6.5 · Cambridge IELTS 19 · 2026-08-20

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 6.5)

Dear Boss,

I want to make a request for reducing my hours of work because i want to start my part-time studies.

I am planning to join a part-time course at Conestoga College related to my work field which is early childhood education. It is a fast-track course of 6 months in which I have to attend classes on Monday and Tuesday from 10 am to 1 pm, so I am requesting you to change my working hours for these days from 9 am to 5 pm instead 2 pm to 8 pm so I can manage both study and work at the same time. This course also will help to increase my work efficiency, as I will bring new ideas and a lot of knowledge about handling different situations and how we can create a more useful classroom for teachers as well as for kids.

I hope you will understand it and I will wait for your response

Thanks,

Namanpreet Singh

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 7.0

The letter addresses all three bullet points of the prompt effectively. You clearly explain the reason for the request (part-time studies), specify the desired hours (Monday and Tuesday, 10 am to 1 pm), and describe the benefits to the employer (increased efficiency and new classroom strategies). The tone is appropriate for a formal request to a supervisor. To reach a higher band, you could expand slightly on the specific nature of the 'new ideas' to make the argument even more persuasive. Overall, the response is well-focused and fulfills all requirements of the task.

Coherence and Cohesion — Band 6.5

The letter is logically organized, with a clear introduction, body, and closing. Each paragraph focuses on a specific aspect of the request. You use some cohesive devices, such as 'because', 'in which', and 'as', to link ideas. However, the transition between the request for hours and the benefits could be smoother. The paragraphing is functional, but the letter would benefit from a more distinct separation between the request details and the justification. Overall, the progression of ideas is clear and easy to follow.

Lexical Resource — Band 6.0

You demonstrate an adequate range of vocabulary for the task, using terms like 'work efficiency', 'fast-track course', and 'handling different situations'. There is some repetition of basic words, and some phrasing is slightly simplistic, such as 'I want to make a request'. To improve, try to incorporate more precise professional collocations. For example, instead of 'make a request', you could use 'formally request' or 'seek approval'. The vocabulary is sufficient to convey your meaning clearly, but it lacks the variety and sophistication required for a higher band score.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 6.0

You use a mix of simple and complex sentence structures, such as the conditional-like structure 'so I can manage both'. However, there are several grammatical errors, including the use of lowercase 'i' instead of 'I', and minor issues with prepositions and word order, such as 'instead 2 pm to 8 pm' (should be 'instead of'). While these errors do not impede communication, they occur frequently enough to prevent a higher score. Focusing on proofreading for basic capitalization and prepositional accuracy would significantly improve the quality of your writing.

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

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