Band 5.0 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 5.0 · 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 5.0)

Dear Sir,

I am writing regarding my working hours, as I want to start part-time studies and would like to reduce my hours. I would prefer to work in the evening or in the afternoon because i thinking about taking classes in the morning.

As part-time studies will help to increase my knowledge about business by taking business courses. It would help to grow our business. from the courese i would get the techniques to run the business in a good way. And I think we would also make more profit.

I will be so happy and grateful to you if you accept my request. I am thankful for your time and assistance.

your faithfully

Jashan Preet Kaur

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 5.0

The response addresses all three bullet points required by the prompt: explaining the reason for the request, specifying the desired hours, and describing the benefits to the employer. However, the development of these ideas is quite limited. The explanation of benefits is repetitive and lacks specific detail, and the letter is significantly under the 150-word minimum requirement. This lack of length prevents the ideas from being fully developed, resulting in a score that reflects the partial coverage of the task requirements.

Coherence and Cohesion — Band 5.5

The letter follows a basic logical structure, starting with the purpose of the letter, followed by the request and the justification. However, the paragraphing is inconsistent and the use of cohesive devices is very limited. Transitions between sentences are often abrupt, such as the jump between discussing business courses and the potential for profit. The overall flow is somewhat mechanical, and the lack of sufficient length makes the progression of ideas feel underdeveloped.

Lexical Resource — Band 5.0

The vocabulary used is functional but basic. Phrases like 'run the business in a good way' and 'make more profit' are repetitive and lack the professional tone expected in a formal letter to an employer. There is little attempt to use less common or more precise vocabulary related to business or professional development. While the meaning is generally clear, the range is limited and does not demonstrate the flexibility required for a higher band score.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 5.0

The response contains several grammatical errors that affect the quality of the writing. For example, 'i thinking about taking classes' should be 'I am thinking about taking classes', and 'from the courese' contains a spelling error and an awkward prepositional start. There is a lack of complex sentence structures, and the punctuation is inconsistent, particularly in the closing. While the errors do not completely impede communication, they are frequent enough to be noticeable.

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

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