Band 5.5 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 5.5 · 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 5.5)

DEAR BOSS,

THIS LETTER IS WRITTEN FOR REDUCTION OF MY WORKIG HOURS.

FROM LAST COUPLE MONTH, I FEEL THATS I AM WORKING CONTINOUSELY WHICH HELPS ME TO WORK PHYSICALLY BUT NOT MENTALLY. I AM FEELING MENTALLY WEAKER NOW WHEREAS I WAS PRETTY GOOD WITH MY IQ AND PROBLEM SOLVING.

I WOULD SUGGEST YOU MY SCHEDULE FOR UPCOMING WEEK FOR WORK WHICH IS LIKE, I WILL WORK ON WEEKENDS FROM FRIDAY TO SUNDAY AND I WILL GO TO COLLEGE ON WEEKDAYDS. I THINK, THIS TIMING AND DAYS ARE ALSO BENEFICIAL FOR YOU BECASUE YOUR WORK IS MOSTLY BUSY ON WEEKENDS.

LASTLY, THIS WILL PROVIDE ME A HEALTHY LIFE AND YOU WILL ASLO GOT A BETTER VERSION ON ME ON WORK. NOW, IT IS DIFFICULT FOR ME TO GROW IN MY LIFE WHEREAS A MENTAL ACTIVITIES HELPS ME TO THINK CRITICALLY FOR MY BETTER FUTURE.

I HOPE U WILL UNDERSTAND MY PROBLEM AND ALLOW MW TO WOKR PART TIME FROM NEXT WEEK.

YOUR FAITHFULLY

AMANJIT SINGH

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 5.5

You have addressed all three bullet points required by the task: explaining the reason for the request, specifying the desired hours, and describing the benefits to the employer. However, the development of these ideas is somewhat limited. For instance, the explanation regarding your mental state is a bit vague, and the benefit to the employer could be more professionally articulated. The tone is also inconsistent; starting a formal letter with 'DEAR BOSS' and using informal language like 'U' is inappropriate for a professional request. To improve, ensure your tone remains consistently formal and provide more detailed, logical justifications for your request to better persuade your employer.

Coherence and Cohesion — Band 5.5

The letter is organized into paragraphs, which helps the reader follow your structure. However, the use of cohesive devices is quite mechanical and sometimes inaccurate. For example, the transition 'FROM LAST COUPLE MONTH' is grammatically awkward and does not effectively link your ideas. The progression of ideas is sometimes disjointed, particularly in the second paragraph where you jump between your mental state and your work schedule. To improve, use a wider variety of linking words such as 'consequently,' 'furthermore,' or 'in addition' to create a smoother flow between your sentences and paragraphs.

Lexical Resource — Band 5.0

Your vocabulary is limited and contains several errors that occasionally impede clarity. You rely on basic phrasing, such as 'pretty good' or 'better version on me,' which lacks the precision required for a formal letter. There are also frequent spelling errors, such as 'WORKIG,' 'CONTINOUSELY,' 'WEEKDAYDS,' and 'ASLO,' which detract from the professional quality of your writing. To reach a higher band, focus on using more precise, formal vocabulary related to employment and professional development, and ensure you proofread your work carefully to eliminate basic spelling mistakes.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 5.0

There is a lack of control over basic grammatical structures. You have frequent errors in verb tense, such as 'FROM LAST COUPLE MONTH, I FEEL,' and subject-verb agreement issues, such as 'A MENTAL ACTIVITIES HELPS.' The use of punctuation is also inconsistent, and the sentence structures are generally simple. While you attempt some complex sentences, they are often marred by grammatical inaccuracies. To improve, focus on mastering basic sentence construction, including correct tense usage and subject-verb agreement. Practicing the use of complex sentences with correct conjunctions will also help you demonstrate a wider grammatical range.

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

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