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 Jerry,

I hope everything is good.

I am writing this in regard to reducing my working hours for a certain period of time. I know currently your store needs me a lot, but I applied for a part-time course, and I have to go in person to university on Tuesdays and Thursdays every week.

After all, I can work for 3 days per week only. I apologise for that and make sure I arrange one person on my behalf who can work on those days.

I am pursuing a course that is our store related and it can help to boost your business. It is related to software and analysis. I will learn and will start a full-time job again. I would love to contribute in your business with my new skills.

I hope this message finds you well, because this learning is very important for my career.

Thank you

Regards,

Vasudev

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 7.0

You have addressed all three bullet points in the prompt: explaining the reason for the request, specifying the desired hours, and describing the benefits to the employer. The tone is appropriate for a formal letter to a manager. However, the development of ideas is somewhat limited. For example, while you mention the course is related to 'software and analysis,' providing a more concrete example of how these skills would specifically improve store operations would have strengthened your argument. The letter is clear and fulfills the requirements of the task effectively.

Coherence and Cohesion — Band 6.5

The letter follows a logical progression, moving from the purpose of the letter to the specific request and finally the benefits. Paragraphing is used, though the structure is quite brief. You use some cohesive devices like 'After all' and 'because,' but these are sometimes used slightly unnaturally. The transition between the request for time off and the offer to arrange a replacement is a bit abrupt. To improve, ensure that your sentences flow more smoothly into one another using a wider variety of linking words and clearer paragraph breaks.

Lexical Resource — Band 6.0

Your vocabulary is adequate for the task, allowing you to convey your message clearly. You use some relevant terms like 'pursuing a course' and 'contribute.' However, there is a reliance on simpler phrasing, such as 'needs me a lot' and 'store related.' To reach a higher band, try to incorporate more precise professional collocations. For instance, instead of saying you will 'arrange one person,' you could use 'find a suitable replacement.' The word choice is generally accurate, but lacks the sophistication required for higher bands.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 6.0

You demonstrate a mix of simple and complex sentence structures. There are some grammatical inaccuracies, such as 'I am writing this in regard to reducing' (should be 'regarding') and 'contribute in your business' (should be 'contribute to'). Additionally, 'I make sure I arrange' should be 'I will ensure I arrange.' While these errors are present, they do not impede communication. To improve, focus on subject-verb agreement and the correct use of prepositions following specific verbs.

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

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