Band 6.0 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 6.0 · 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 6.0)

Dear Brian,

I am writing to inform you that I would like to change my schedule because I am returning to my school. I am interested in biology so, i would like to take an admission in pest control certification course.

My availability is going to change from next week. I am only available from Wednesday to Sunday. I can do mornings and evenings on each day. I need Monday and Tuesday off to go to my college.

Additionally, my pest control certification would benefit you as well because as a restaurant owner you are require to hire certified pest controller to control pest entries in your restaurant. I can do all the pest control tasks which will enhance the reputation of your restaurant in-front of health inspection companies.

I hope you would appreciate my carrier opportunity. Looking forward to your prompt response.

Yours Sincerely,

Gagandeep Kaur

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 5.5

The letter addresses all three bullet points: the reason for the request, the specific hours, and the benefits to the employer. However, the response is slightly under the 150-word minimum, which impacts the overall task completion. While the ideas are relevant, the development is somewhat brief. For example, the explanation of how the certification benefits the employer is clear but could have been expanded with more professional detail to fully satisfy the requirements of a formal letter. The tone is generally appropriate for a request to a boss, though it lacks some of the formal polish expected in a professional context.

Coherence and Cohesion — Band 6.0

The letter is logically organized into paragraphs, each focusing on a specific requirement of the prompt. The progression of ideas is clear, moving from the request to the schedule and finally the benefits. However, the use of cohesive devices is somewhat mechanical and limited. Transitions such as 'Additionally' are used correctly, but the overall flow could be improved with a wider variety of linking words. Paragraphing is present and appropriate, which helps the reader follow the structure of the request, but the connection between sentences within paragraphs occasionally feels a bit disjointed.

Lexical Resource — Band 6.0

The vocabulary is adequate for the task, allowing the writer to communicate their needs clearly. There are some attempts at topic-specific vocabulary, such as 'pest control certification' and 'health inspection companies'. However, there are instances of word-choice errors and awkward phrasing, such as 'take an admission' instead of 'enroll in' and 'in-front of' instead of 'in the eyes of' or 'for'. The range is sufficient for the task but lacks the precision and flexibility required for higher bands. Spelling is generally accurate, but the overall lexical control remains at a functional level.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 5.5

The letter uses a mix of simple and some complex sentence structures. While the meaning is generally clear, there are several grammatical errors that persist throughout the text. Examples include 'I am returning to my school' (should be 'returning to school'), 'you are require' (should be 'you are required'), and 'my carrier opportunity' (should be 'career'). Punctuation is mostly functional, though the capitalization of 'i' is inconsistent. These errors do not significantly impede communication, but they demonstrate a lack of control over more complex grammatical forms, keeping the score in the mid-range.

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

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