Band 6.0 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 6.0 · 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 6.0)

Dear Mr. John,

Hope this letter finds you well. I am writing this letter to request for reduction in my working hours in order to study part time.

For past few days, i am learning more about MRI sequences. Since most of the radiologic technologist in our department find it hard to operate the MRI machine. Since MRI concepts are extremely difficult to understand, doing full time work allows less time to allocate for learning.

I generally prefer to read in the evenings, so i would have no difficulties to work in the morning shift. I would try my best to work eight hours a day instead of nine hours as per our hospital's protocol.

I believe this part-time study would help significantly to me and my fellow colleagues due to the fact that I would happy to teach them what i have learned in my studies. This eliminates the need for appointing a new senior technologist to learn about MRI.

I hope you will review this request. Thank you for your time and consideration.

Yours Faithfully,

Maria

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 6.0

You have addressed all three bullet points of the prompt: explaining the reason for the request, specifying the desired hours, and outlining the benefits to the employer. The tone is appropriate for a formal letter to a supervisor. However, the development of ideas is somewhat limited. For example, while you mention that MRI concepts are difficult, you could have provided more specific detail on how the course content directly translates to improved hospital efficiency. The request for hours is clear, but the explanation of the shift change could be more precise to ensure the employer understands the logistical impact. Overall, the response is relevant and fulfills the requirements of the task.

Coherence and Cohesion — Band 6.0

The letter follows a logical structure with a clear introduction, body paragraphs, and a formal closing. Paragraphing is used appropriately to separate the different points of the request. You use some cohesive devices, such as 'Since' and 'due to the fact that', to link ideas. However, the flow between sentences is occasionally mechanical. For instance, the transition between the second and third paragraphs could be smoother. Additionally, there is some repetition of sentence structures, which slightly affects the overall cohesion. Using a wider variety of linking words would help improve the logical progression of your argument.

Lexical Resource — Band 5.5

You demonstrate an adequate range of vocabulary for the task, using subject-specific terms like 'radiologic technologist' and 'MRI sequences' correctly. There are some minor errors in word choice and collocation, such as 'request for reduction' (should be 'request a reduction') and 'allocate for learning' (should be 'allocate to learning'). While the vocabulary is sufficient to convey your meaning clearly, it lacks the sophistication and precision required for higher bands. To improve, focus on using more natural collocations and avoiding repetitive phrasing when explaining your professional goals.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 5.5

You use a mix of simple and complex sentence structures, but there are several recurring grammatical errors. Common issues include missing articles ('the' radiologic technologist), incorrect pronoun usage ('i' should be capitalized), and subject-verb agreement errors ('most of the radiologic technologist' should be plural). Additionally, there are punctuation and capitalization slips throughout the text. While these errors do not impede communication, they are frequent enough to prevent a higher score. Focusing on proofreading for basic grammatical accuracy and ensuring consistent capitalization will significantly improve your writing quality.

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

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