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/ Madam,

I am Writing this letter to express my concern regarding working hours. These days i have been getting training for the advance level of insurance management in result that might help in your business further. Due to this, I would like make an request for less working hours thus, to get fully attention on my studies.

Firstly, I would like to work in the morning hours so that after work i would attend evening class at the time. i would be greatful if you could adjust my schedule accordingly.

In addition. i would like to mention that after becoming the certified in the position eventually, that give plus point to your business as your business required two high level if insurance agent. I believed that I would be able to give exam next week so that i can invest my knowledge in your company to get higher profit.

finally, i would like to ask whether that timing is suitable to your coming or not. Please let me inform. i would apprecialte at if you could set it according to the both side.

tha

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 6.0

The letter covers all three bullet points: the reason for the request, the preferred hours, and the benefits to the employer. However, the development of these ideas is somewhat limited. For instance, the explanation of how the studies benefit the employer is slightly unclear due to awkward phrasing ('your business required two high level if insurance agent'). While the purpose of the letter is clear, the tone is inconsistent, shifting between formal and informal, and the conclusion is incomplete, ending abruptly with 'tha'. To reach a higher band, ensure that the benefits to the employer are explained with greater clarity and professional precision.

Coherence and Cohesion — Band 5.5

The letter is organized into paragraphs, which helps the reader follow the structure. However, the use of cohesive devices is often mechanical or inaccurate, such as 'in result that might help' or 'at the time'. The progression of ideas is sometimes hindered by awkward sentence construction, particularly in the third paragraph. Referencing is occasionally unclear, and the letter lacks a proper closing, which disrupts the overall flow. To improve, focus on using a wider variety of linking words more naturally and ensure that each paragraph transitions smoothly into the next.

Lexical Resource — Band 5.5

The vocabulary is generally adequate for the task but lacks the precision and variety required for a higher band. There are several instances of word-choice errors and awkward collocations, such as 'make an request', 'get fully attention', and 'give exam'. Some phrases are repetitive or imprecise, such as 'plus point' and 'high level if insurance agent'. While the meaning is generally conveyed, the lack of sophisticated vocabulary and the presence of spelling errors (e.g., 'greatful', 'apprecialte') limit the score. Expanding your range of professional terminology would be beneficial.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 5.0

The letter contains a mix of simple and complex sentence structures, but there are frequent grammatical errors throughout. Issues include incorrect verb forms ('I am Writing'), missing articles, subject-verb agreement errors ('that give plus point'), and punctuation mistakes. The sentence structure is often clunky, which occasionally makes the meaning difficult to parse. While the errors do not completely prevent communication, they are frequent enough to be distracting. Focusing on basic sentence construction, correct verb tenses, and proofreading for minor slips would significantly improve the clarity and accuracy of your writing.

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

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