Band 6.0 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 6.0 · Cambridge IELTS 19 · 2026-08-22

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)

RESPECTED SIR, I hope you are doing well. I am writing this letter to let you know that I want to study part time with my current job. For that reason, I want to reduce my working hours. Recently, I got admission in the university for my Masters Degree. I have been waiting for this opportunity from quite a long period of time. As u know that I have always been punctual and dedicated towards my work. I have evening classes so I will work in the morning at your art gallery. I won't be available after 2 pm. You have always been supportive towards me. I have always felt proud while working for u and will continue to do so in the same manner. Doing Master's was always a dream for me and I m doing it in arts. Furthermore, it will help me to explore more about art, and will be beneficial for the Art Gallery. I will play a more pivotal role in future, and will help me to guide the people of our art Gallery in more reasonable manner. I will be waiting to hear from you. Yours faithfully, ARSLAN ABBAS

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 6.5

The letter addresses all three bullet points of the prompt: the reason for the request, the specific hours desired, and the benefits to the employer. The tone is generally appropriate for a professional request, although the opening 'Respected Sir' is slightly dated and less common in modern business English. The ideas are relevant, though the explanation of how the studies will benefit the employer could be more specific and developed to reach a higher band. The purpose of the letter is clear throughout, and the reader is left in no doubt about the student's intentions.

Coherence and Cohesion — Band 6.0

The letter is logically organized into clear paragraphs, with an introduction, body, and conclusion. The progression of ideas is easy to follow. However, the use of cohesive devices is somewhat limited and occasionally repetitive. For example, the phrase 'I have always' is used twice in the first paragraph, and the transition between ideas could be smoother. While the paragraphing is functional, the overall flow lacks the sophisticated linking required for a higher band score. The structure is sufficient to ensure the message is conveyed clearly.

Lexical Resource — Band 5.5

The vocabulary is adequate for the task, allowing the student to express their needs clearly. There are some attempts at more precise language, such as 'pivotal role' and 'dedicated'. However, there are some informal choices, such as the use of 'u' instead of 'you' and 'm' instead of 'am', which are inappropriate for a formal letter. The range of vocabulary is somewhat narrow, and there is a reliance on simple, repetitive sentence structures. To improve, the student should focus on using more varied and formal professional terminology.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 5.5

The student uses a mix of simple and complex sentence structures. While the meaning is generally clear, there are several grammatical errors, such as 'I got admission in the university' (should be 'to the university') and 'waiting for this opportunity from quite a long period' (should be 'for'). Punctuation is generally acceptable, but the informal abbreviations ('u', 'm') negatively impact the grammatical accuracy and formal tone. The student demonstrates a reasonable grasp of basic grammar, but more attention to prepositions and formal conventions is needed for a higher score.

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

Browse more IELTS Writing model answers or get your own writing scored by the same AI examiner.