Band 5.5 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 5.5 · 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 5.5)

Dear Sir ,

I would like to inform you that I want to reduce my working hours due to my study.

First of all , I would like to explain that I want to reduce my working hours because of my study due to I didn’t get time to give relief to my body. Sometimes I came at shift after my class and do 8 hours shift without eating anything from morning to night because I didn’t get time to prepare meal for myself due to which I face many problems like decrease in body weight and many health problems.

In addition, I would like to work in the evening hours. This is important because I will get a time for relaxing my body as well for preparing food.

Finally, I would appreciate it if you could understand my problem and it also beneficial for you if you give me less hours , the wages will also less .

Thank you for your time and consideration. I look forward to hearing from you.

Your Sincerely

Nikhil Birla

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 5.5

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. However, the development of these points is somewhat limited. The explanation regarding your health is repetitive and lacks professional tone. Furthermore, the final point regarding the benefits to the employer is underdeveloped; you focus primarily on your own needs rather than explaining how your studies might add value to the company (e.g., new skills or knowledge). To improve, ensure your arguments are more balanced and professional.

Coherence and Cohesion — Band 6.0

The letter is organised into paragraphs, which helps the reader follow the structure. However, the use of cohesive devices is somewhat mechanical and repetitive (e.g., 'First of all', 'In addition', 'Finally'). Some transitions are awkward, such as 'due to which I face many problems', which disrupts the flow of the argument. The progression of ideas is generally logical, but the connection between sentences could be smoother. Improving the variety of linking words and ensuring that each paragraph focuses on a single, well-developed idea would enhance the overall coherence.

Lexical Resource — Band 5.5

The vocabulary used is functional but basic. There is a reliance on simple phrasing, such as 'give relief to my body' and 'prepare meal for myself', which sounds unnatural in a professional context. You attempt to use some relevant vocabulary, but the range is limited. There are also minor errors in word choice and collocation that occasionally make the text sound slightly informal or awkward. To reach a higher band, focus on using more precise, professional terminology suitable for a formal letter to an employer.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 5.5

The letter contains a mix of simple and complex sentence structures, but there are frequent grammatical errors. Examples include 'due to I didn’t get time', 'I came at shift', and 'the wages will also less'. These errors, while not completely impeding communication, are noticeable and detract from the professional tone of the letter. Punctuation is also inconsistent, with unnecessary spaces before commas. To improve, focus on subject-verb agreement, correct preposition usage, and ensuring that complex sentences are constructed accurately.

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

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