Band 5.0 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 5.0 · Cambridge IELTS 19 · 2026-08-24

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,

I am writing a letter to you to reduce my working time. I am doing study in my home. I am working as employee your company . I have apply for manager post in your company. So i parpare for interview and exam.

I would like to do job in morning hours. because in the evening i went to home and study . it is good time for study. If company have emergency work please give me work from home . It is helpfull for me.

If i study and pass the interview i will in manager post . It is good for employer because I am experience person in your company .I have good commnication skills and I am old worker of company. I help to company to increase their profit.

Thank you for hearing me.

Yours faithfully,

parminder singh

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 5.0

The letter addresses all three bullet points: the reason for the request, the preferred hours, and the benefits to the employer. However, the development of these ideas is quite limited and simplistic. The response also falls short of the 150-word minimum requirement, which negatively impacts the overall task achievement score. The tone is somewhat informal and lacks the professional polish expected in a formal letter to a manager. To improve, you should expand on your points with more detail and ensure you meet the minimum word count to fully develop your arguments.

Coherence and Cohesion — Band 5.5

The letter is organised into paragraphs, which helps the reader follow the structure. However, the use of cohesive devices is very limited and repetitive. Transitions between sentences are often abrupt, such as 'I am working as employee your company' followed by 'I have apply for manager post'. There is a lack of logical flow between ideas, and the connection between the study and the benefits to the employer is not clearly articulated. Using a wider range of linking words like 'consequently', 'furthermore', or 'in addition' would help improve the logical progression of your writing.

Lexical Resource — Band 5.0

The vocabulary is basic and repetitive, often relying on simple sentence structures. There are several errors in word choice and collocation, such as 'I am doing study' instead of 'I am studying' and 'I have apply' instead of 'I have applied'. The phrase 'old worker of company' is also unnatural; 'long-term employee' would be more appropriate. To reach a higher band, you need to use a wider range of vocabulary and ensure that your word choices are accurate and appropriate for a professional context.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 5.0

The response contains frequent grammatical errors, including issues with verb tenses ('I have apply'), articles ('as employee your company'), and sentence structure. There is a lack of complex sentence structures, and the writing relies heavily on simple, short sentences. Punctuation is also inconsistent, particularly with spacing and capitalization. While the meaning is generally understandable, the high frequency of errors in basic grammar prevents the writing from reaching a higher band. Focusing on subject-verb agreement and consistent tense usage will be essential for improvement.

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

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