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 or Madam,

I am writing this to formally request the reduction of my working hours from this fall. I am starting my part-time MBA course in Marketing and Media Analytics.

As I am enrolled in a part-time course, I need to dedicate half of my time for study. With full-time work it is challenging to manage both at the same time.

For the fall, Most of my classes are in mornings from 8 am to 12 pm. Apart from the commute, I am available to work Monday to Friday afternoons from 2pm.

The Marketing and Media Analytics will not only help me advance my career but this course is mainly designed to follow the latest market trends and media presence. I can also incorporate the market research in use to the company where social media platforms have became the means of advertisements.

I am looking forward to your response.

Kind Regards,

S

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 6.5

The letter addresses all three bullet points of the prompt: explaining the reason for the request, specifying the desired hours, and describing the benefits to the employer. The tone is appropriate for a formal letter to a boss. However, the development of ideas is somewhat brief. For instance, the explanation of how the MBA will benefit the company is a bit vague. To reach a higher band, you should provide more specific examples of how your new skills in Marketing and Media Analytics could be applied to your current projects or company goals. Overall, the task is fulfilled, but the depth of the arguments could be improved.

Coherence and Cohesion — Band 6.5

The letter follows a logical progression, moving from the request to the schedule and finally the benefits. Paragraphing is used, though the structure is slightly fragmented. The use of cohesive devices is present but somewhat basic (e.g., 'Apart from', 'As I am'). Some transitions between sentences feel a bit abrupt, particularly in the second paragraph. To improve, try to use a wider range of linking words to connect your ideas more fluidly. The referencing is clear, and the reader can easily follow the purpose of the letter throughout.

Lexical Resource — Band 6.0

You demonstrate an adequate range of vocabulary for the task, using terms like 'formally request', 'enrolled', and 'incorporate'. However, there are some minor errors in word choice and collocation, such as 'in use to the company' (should be 'for the company') and 'became the means of advertisements' (should be 'have become a primary advertising tool'). While these errors do not impede communication, they prevent the vocabulary from reaching a higher level of precision. Expanding your range of professional collocations would help elevate your writing.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 6.5

You use a mix of simple and complex sentence structures, which is appropriate for this task. There are a few grammatical slips, such as 'Most of my classes are in mornings' (missing 'the') and 'have became' (incorrect verb form; should be 'have become'). Punctuation is generally accurate, though some sentences could be refined for better flow. The majority of your sentences are clear and error-free, which demonstrates a reasonable level of control. Focusing on subject-verb agreement and article usage will help you achieve a higher score in this criterion.

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

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