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 Sir,

I am writing to formally express my concerns regarding my hours at work. I would like to reduce my working hours due to my part-time studies. This has caused me considerable inconvenience and disappointment.

To begin with, I have an exam next month, and as part of that, I want to prepare for it. I would like to work on weekends if it is possible. So I can learn during my weekday hours.

In light of the circumstances, I would appreciate it if you could change my schedule for the next month. I would also be grateful if you could reduce my hours so I can prepare in my free time for my studies. I trust that you will give this matter your prompt attention and take the necessary steps to resolve it.

Furthermore, when I pass the exam, it will help me to put my efforts into my work. As I will get my certification in the skill.

I greatly appreciate your time and consideration in this matter. I sincerely hope that the necessary steps will be taken to resolve these concerns promptly. I look forward to receiving your response.

Yours faithfully,

Siddharth Malvi

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 6.0

You have addressed all three bullet points in the prompt. You explained the reason for the request (part-time studies), specified the desired hours (weekends), and described the benefit to the employer (applying new skills to work). However, the tone is slightly inconsistent. You begin by stating the request has caused 'considerable inconvenience and disappointment,' which sounds like a complaint against the employer rather than a professional request for a schedule change. This misinterpretation of tone affects the overall impact of the letter. To improve, ensure the tone remains polite, professional, and persuasive throughout, as this is a formal request to a superior.

Coherence and Cohesion — Band 6.5

The letter is logically organized with a clear introduction, body paragraphs, and a formal closing. You use some cohesive devices such as 'To begin with,' 'In light of the circumstances,' and 'Furthermore' to link ideas. However, the transition between the first and second paragraphs is slightly abrupt, and the repetition of the phrase 'take the necessary steps to resolve it' in both the third and fifth paragraphs makes the writing feel somewhat mechanical. Improving the variety of your linking phrases and ensuring that each paragraph flows naturally into the next would help achieve a higher band score.

Lexical Resource — Band 6.0

You have a sufficient range of vocabulary to convey your meaning clearly. Phrases like 'formally express my concerns' and 'prompt attention' are appropriate for a formal letter. However, there are some inaccuracies in word choice, such as 'put my efforts into my work' and 'get my certification in the skill,' which sound slightly unnatural. Expanding your vocabulary to include more precise collocations related to professional requests would enhance the quality of your writing. The spelling is accurate throughout the response.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 6.0

You demonstrate a mix of simple and complex sentence structures. While most of your sentences are clear, there are some grammatical slips, such as 'So I can learn during my weekday hours,' which is a sentence fragment. Additionally, 'As I will get my certification in the skill' is a dependent clause that should be connected to a main clause. While these errors do not impede communication, they limit your ability to reach the higher bands. Focusing on sentence combining and ensuring that all clauses are complete will help improve your accuracy.

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

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