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 Sir/Madam,

I hope you are doing good. I wanted to reach you out regarding a kind request about my working hours adjustment.

Based on the modern trend of the technologies I had a thought to expand my knowledge in Data Science stream, hence I choose a Master degree in Data Science which will be conducted online. I want to reduce my working hours in order to participate for the lectures.

According to the time table, I would like to work 8 am to 2pm on Tuesdays and Fridays. I will continue my regular shift which is 8am to 5pm on other days.

In my thorough research about my masters, I found that studies of data science will help in several ways to the company. As an example building autonomus data pipeline, machine learning modules etc.

I would like to seek your kind attention to the above matter and seek your approval for the work hour adjustment.

Thank you for your time and attention.

Best regards,

Chamath

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 7.0

The letter covers all three bullet points required by the prompt. You clearly explain the reason for the request (Data Science studies), specify the desired hours (Tuesdays and Fridays, 8 am to 2 pm), and describe the benefits to the employer (autonomous data pipelines and machine learning). The tone is appropriate for a formal letter to a boss. To improve, you could expand slightly on how the specific skills gained will be applied to your current role to make the argument more persuasive. Overall, the task is fully addressed.

Coherence and Cohesion — Band 6.5

The letter is logically organized with a clear introduction, body paragraphs, and a closing. Each paragraph focuses on a specific requirement of the task. You use some cohesive devices such as 'hence', 'according to', and 'as an example'. However, the flow between sentences could be improved; some transitions feel a bit mechanical. The paragraphing is sufficient, but ensure that the transition between your current shift and the proposed shift is smoother to enhance readability.

Lexical Resource — Band 6.0

You demonstrate an adequate range of vocabulary for the task, using terms like 'adjustment', 'autonomous', and 'data pipeline'. There are some minor inaccuracies, such as 'reach you out' (should be 'reach out to you') and 'studies of data science' (should be 'studying data science'). While the vocabulary is sufficient to convey your meaning clearly, it lacks the flexibility and precision required for higher bands. Focusing on more natural collocations will help improve your score.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 6.0

You use a mix of simple and complex sentence structures. There are several grammatical errors, such as 'I hope you are doing good' (should be 'doing well'), 'I choose a Master degree' (should be 'I have chosen a Master's degree'), and 'participate for the lectures' (should be 'participate in the lectures'). While these errors do not impede communication, they occur frequently enough to prevent a higher score. You should focus on verb tense consistency and correct preposition usage.

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

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