Band 6.5 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 6.5 · Cambridge IELTS 19 · 2026-08-25

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 6.5)

Dear Sir,

I hope you are doing well. I am writing to inform you that I want to reduce my working hours in order to pursue my part time study.

The class time is clashing with my shift hours and effecting my course badly. So, to focus on the studies, and to get certificate of qualification, I have to give more time to study.

Generally, I do Morning shift, from 7 am to 3pm, but my class timings are 8am to 11am. Therefore, Afternoon shift, starting 3pm would be a best option for me.

As, the subject I choose is of Pharmacy Assistant, that along with my own career uplifting, would make me able to contribute in our company's pharmacy sector.

In that way, I will be more than a receptionist for the firm.

I hope you will understand and allow me to change the working hours.

Thank you,

Zorawar

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 7.0

The letter covers all three bullet points required by the prompt. You clearly explain the need to reduce hours for study, specify the desired shift change, and articulate the benefit to the employer. The tone is appropriate for a formal request to a boss. However, the development of ideas is somewhat brief. For instance, while you mention the pharmacy sector, expanding slightly on how your new skills would specifically improve company operations would have made the argument more persuasive. Overall, the task is fulfilled effectively, and the purpose of the letter is clear from the beginning.

Coherence and Cohesion — Band 6.5

The letter follows a logical structure, with each paragraph addressing a specific requirement of the task. The progression of ideas is easy to follow. You use basic cohesive devices such as 'Therefore', 'As', and 'In that way' to link your sentences. While the organization is clear, the use of cohesive devices is somewhat mechanical. To reach a higher band, you could vary your linking words and ensure that the transition between the explanation of your studies and the benefit to the employer is more fluid. Paragraphing is used correctly to separate distinct points.

Lexical Resource — Band 6.0

You demonstrate an adequate range of vocabulary for the task, using terms like 'pursue', 'qualification', and 'uplifting'. However, there are some inaccuracies in word choice and collocation. For example, you use 'effecting' instead of 'affecting' and 'subject I choose is of Pharmacy Assistant' is slightly unnatural. Additionally, 'make me able to' is a bit clunky compared to 'enable me to'. While these errors do not impede communication, they indicate a need for more precise vocabulary usage to reach a higher band score.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 6.0

You use a mix of simple and complex sentence structures. There are several grammatical errors, such as 'part time study' (should be 'part-time studies'), 'the subject I choose is of' (should be 'the course I have chosen is'), and 'would be a best option' (should be 'would be the best option'). Punctuation is generally acceptable, though some commas are used unnecessarily. The errors are frequent enough to be noticeable but do not prevent the reader from understanding your request. Focusing on subject-verb agreement and article usage will help improve your accuracy.

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

Browse more IELTS Writing model answers or get your own writing scored by the same AI examiner.