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 Sir,

I am writing this letter to you to explain my concern regarding the reduction in my working hours due to part time study.

Firstly, I would like to mention I have recently joined a college for my part-time study, due to this I have need 2 or 3 days off from work every week so I can only work on the weekends due to classes in the weekdays.

Secondly, before joining classes I was doing a full-time job here but now I have some compulsions from my college as I cannot do more than 24 hours per week according to the rules and regulations of the education policy.

Last but not the least, my ongoing part-time study will help you in the future because it is related to the food and safety which will positively contribute to maintaining the restaurant's food and safety.

I hope to hear from you soon.

Best regards,

Lovejeet

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 6.0

You have addressed all three bullet points in the prompt. You explained the reason for the request (part-time study), specified the desired hours (weekends only), and described the benefit to the employer (food safety knowledge). However, the development of these points is somewhat basic. For instance, the explanation of how your studies benefit the restaurant is quite brief. To reach a higher band, you should expand on how your specific course content will improve restaurant operations, perhaps by mentioning specific skills or certifications you are gaining. The tone is generally appropriate for a formal letter to a boss, though it could be slightly more professional in its phrasing.

Coherence and Cohesion — Band 6.5

The letter is organized into clear paragraphs, which helps the reader follow your argument. You use basic cohesive devices such as 'Firstly', 'Secondly', and 'Last but not the least' to signal the progression of your ideas. While these are functional, they are somewhat mechanical. To improve, try to vary your linking words and ensure that the transition between your personal study needs and the benefit to the employer is smoother. The referencing is generally clear, and the overall structure of the letter follows a logical path from the request to the justification.

Lexical Resource — Band 6.0

You use an adequate range of vocabulary to convey your message, such as 'compulsions', 'regulations', and 'contribute'. However, there are some inaccuracies in word choice and collocation. For example, 'I have need 2 or 3 days off' is grammatically awkward, and 'related to the food and safety' is slightly unnatural; 'food safety and hygiene' would be more precise. You rely on some repetitive phrasing, such as 'part-time study'. Expanding your vocabulary to include more specific professional terminology related to your industry would help demonstrate a wider range and improve the precision of your writing.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 5.5

You demonstrate a mix of simple and complex sentence structures, but there are frequent errors that occasionally hinder the flow. For example, 'due to this I have need 2 or 3 days off' contains a grammatical error ('have need'), and 'classes in the weekdays' should be 'classes on weekdays'. There are also issues with punctuation and sentence boundaries, such as the run-on sentence in the second paragraph. While these errors do not prevent the reader from understanding your request, they are frequent enough to limit your score. Focusing on subject-verb agreement and correct preposition usage will help improve your accuracy.

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

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