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 Ali,

I am writing this letter to request you to reduce my working hours. Currently, I am performing my duties in the morning shift for 8 to 10 hours 5 days a week. Moreover, I would like to inform you that I have been accepted into a master program to enhance my academic knowledge. It is a two-years program in data management.

Therefore, I am humbly requesting you to reduce my duty hours to 6 hours only. However, I would be happy to do one extra day to compensate my weekly hours. Futhermore, I would similarly appreciate it if you could change my duty shift to the evening time. With that, I would be able to take my lectures without any hindrance.

In addition to that, I would also like to tell you the benefits of this master program. It will give me more practical experience to manage things here in the office. It will give me more confidence to manage work properly and professionally.

I would appreciate a positive response from your side.

Yours sincerely,

Ayaz

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 6.5

You have addressed all three bullet points of the task effectively. You clearly explained the reason for the request (master's program), specified the desired hours (6 hours), and articulated how the employer would benefit (practical experience in data management). The tone is appropriate for a formal letter to a supervisor. The ideas are relevant and well-developed, ensuring the reader understands your situation and the value you bring to the company. To reach a higher band, you could provide slightly more specific detail regarding the 'data management' skills and how they directly apply to your current office tasks to make the argument even more persuasive.

Coherence and Cohesion — Band 6.5

The letter follows a logical progression, moving from the request to the specific details and finally to the benefits. You use transition words such as 'Moreover', 'Therefore', 'Furthermore', and 'In addition to that' to connect your ideas. While these are effective, the use of 'In addition to that' is slightly repetitive in style. Paragraphing is used correctly to separate the request from the justification. The flow of information is smooth, and the letter is easy to follow from start to finish. To improve, try to vary your cohesive devices to avoid relying on standard list-like connectors.

Lexical Resource — Band 6.0

You have a sufficient range of vocabulary to convey your message clearly. Phrases like 'enhance my academic knowledge' and 'without any hindrance' are well-chosen and appropriate for a formal context. There are a few minor issues, such as 'master program' (should be 'master's program') and 'compensate my weekly hours' (which is slightly awkward; 'make up for' or 'adjust' would be more natural). The vocabulary is generally accurate and fits the professional tone required for this task. You demonstrate a good awareness of formal register throughout the letter.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 6.0

You demonstrate a good control of grammar with a mix of simple and complex sentence structures. Most sentences are error-free, and your meaning is always clear. There are a few minor slips, such as 'I am writing this letter to request you to reduce' (a more natural phrasing would be 'I am writing to request a reduction in my working hours') and 'two-years program' (should be 'two-year program'). Punctuation is generally accurate. You have shown enough flexibility to communicate your request effectively, and your errors do not impede the reader's understanding of your intent.

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

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