Band 5.0 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 5.0 · 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 5.0)

Dear Sir,

Hope you are doing great. My name is Ram, i am working as a pharmacist in your hospital from last 5 years. So, i just want to inform you I am going to start a further study which is related to my course, I want update my skills.From the next month i will be available part time. I do not get my proper schedule yet, but i asked from my college teacher, he told me i will have to continue my college 4 day per week, because it has some practical study, so i cannot absence those lectures. So, I request you from the coming month i am available only three day a week, kindly make my working schedule on Friday, Saturday and Sunday. So that i can continue my further study. I will be a great thankful for you.

Thanku so much

your sincere

Ram

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 5.0

The letter covers all three bullet points: the reason for the request, the preferred schedule, and the benefits to the employer. However, the development of these ideas is quite limited. The explanation of how the studies benefit the employer is particularly weak, as it is only briefly mentioned as 'update my skills' without explaining how this adds value to the hospital. Furthermore, the response is slightly under the 150-word minimum, which impacts the overall development of the task. To improve, you should expand on the professional benefits of your studies and ensure you meet the minimum word count requirement to fully develop your ideas.

Coherence and Cohesion — Band 5.5

The letter is logically organized, moving from the purpose of the letter to the specific request and the justification. However, the use of cohesive devices is very basic and repetitive. You rely heavily on 'So' to start sentences, which makes the flow feel mechanical. There is a lack of paragraphing, which is essential for a formal letter. To improve, try to use a wider range of linking words such as 'consequently,' 'furthermore,' or 'in addition' to connect your ideas more fluidly, and ensure you use clear paragraph breaks to separate your introduction, body, and conclusion.

Lexical Resource — Band 5.0

The vocabulary is sufficient to convey the basic message but is quite limited and repetitive. Phrases like 'I do not get my proper schedule yet' and 'I will be a great thankful for you' are unnatural and contain grammatical errors. The range of vocabulary is narrow, relying on simple, everyday words. To achieve a higher band, you should incorporate more precise, professional terminology related to your workplace and studies, and focus on correct collocations. For example, instead of 'get my schedule,' use 'receive my timetable' or 'have my roster confirmed.'

Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 5.0

The response contains frequent grammatical errors that occasionally impede clarity. There are issues with subject-verb agreement ('i am working... from last 5 years'), article usage, and sentence structure (e.g., 'he told me i will have to continue my college 4 day per week'). The punctuation is also inconsistent, particularly with the use of lowercase 'i' and missing commas. The range of structures is limited to simple sentences. To improve, focus on mastering basic sentence construction, ensuring consistent capitalization, and practicing the correct use of tenses for past and future actions.

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

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