Band 5.0 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 5.0 · Cambridge IELTS 19 · 2026-08-26

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 hector,

i am writing to inform you my school will be start from next . so i wanna reduce my working hours, because according to immigration rules, i only work 24 hours during the college . so i wanna write my new availiability in availabelity form . which i ask to raj she gave me .

i am not work monday or wednesday, Rest of the days i will work , any time. I already mentioned i prefer closing. beacsue at the day time i focus on my studies. my friend also tell me to statrt learn french , so i also take classes to of french. I alos have three course in my fall semester. so its hard for me to work full time . i hope you understand my situation . this course also give information about human psychlogy. which is good for my upcoming future.

your faithfully

khushpreet kaur

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 5.5

The letter addresses all three bullet points: the reason for the request, the preferred hours, and the benefit to the employer. However, the development of these ideas is quite limited. The explanation regarding the benefit to the employer is vague, mentioning 'human psychology' without clearly linking it to how it adds value to the workplace. The tone is also inconsistent; while it is a formal request, the language used is overly informal and lacks the professional register required for a letter to a boss. To improve, you should expand on how your studies will specifically enhance your performance or contribute to the company's goals.

Coherence and Cohesion — Band 5.0

The letter is divided into two short paragraphs, but the logical flow is hindered by poor sentence structure and a lack of cohesive devices. Transitions between ideas are abrupt, such as the sudden shift from discussing immigration rules to mentioning a friend's advice about learning French. The use of referencing is also weak, making it difficult for the reader to follow the progression of your argument. To improve, use linking words like 'consequently', 'furthermore', or 'in addition' to connect your sentences and ensure that each paragraph focuses on a single, well-developed theme.

Lexical Resource — Band 5.0

The vocabulary is basic and repetitive, with several spelling errors such as 'availiability', 'availabelity', 'beacsue', and 'psychlogy'. The range of vocabulary is insufficient to express your ideas with precision. You rely on simple, informal phrasing like 'wanna' and 'my friend also tell me', which is inappropriate for a formal letter. To reach a higher band, you need to expand your vocabulary to include more professional and precise terms related to employment and academic study, and pay closer attention to accurate spelling and word choice.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 5.0

There are frequent grammatical errors throughout the text that occasionally impede communication. Examples include 'my school will be start', 'i am not work monday', and 'this course also give information'. There is a lack of control over basic verb tenses and subject-verb agreement. Furthermore, the punctuation is inconsistent, with missing capital letters and incorrect spacing. The sentence structures are mostly simple, and attempts at more complex sentences are often grammatically flawed. Focusing on basic sentence construction, correct verb forms, and proper punctuation will significantly improve your score.

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

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