Band 5.0 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 5.0 · Cambridge IELTS 19 · 2026-08-27

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 Swaranjeet Kaur, from Rampura. I writing a letter you to reduce my some working hours bacause I want to spend time on stuy.

Presently I am working in your company and I am doing full time job in your company now, I want to reduce my working hours because I started my further education. I have keen interest learning something new in my life, because I want to enhance my knowledge about doing something new. So I start English classes,I am feel i am weak in English.

I humbly request you to reduce my hours. I am doing job 9:00 Am to 5:00 pm Monday to Friday so now you change days Monday to Wednesday. After these days on Thursday and Friday I am taking part in my further study.

Your faithful

Swaranjeet kaur

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 5.0

The letter addresses all three bullet points: the reason for the request, the proposed schedule, and the benefits to the employer. However, the response is significantly under the 150-word minimum, which limits the development of ideas. The explanation of how the studies would benefit the employer is quite brief and lacks detail. To improve, you should expand on how your new English skills will specifically help you perform your job duties more effectively. Because the response is under-length and the ideas are underdeveloped, it falls into the lower band range.

Coherence and Cohesion — Band 5.0

The letter is logically organized, moving from the purpose of the letter to the specific request and the justification. However, the use of cohesive devices is very limited and mechanical. There is a lack of transition words between sentences, making the flow feel somewhat disjointed. Paragraphing is also insufficient; the entire body of the letter is presented as one block of text. To improve, use linking words like 'consequently,' 'furthermore,' or 'in addition' to connect your ideas more smoothly and ensure you use clear paragraph breaks for each distinct point.

Lexical Resource — Band 5.0

The vocabulary is basic and repetitive. Phrases like 'doing job' and 'doing something new' are simplistic and lack the professional tone required for a formal letter to an employer. There are also errors in word choice, such as 'I am feel i am weak,' which hinders clarity. To reach a higher band, you need to use more precise, professional vocabulary related to workplace requests and professional development. Avoid repeating the same words and try to incorporate more sophisticated collocations appropriate for a formal business context.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 5.0

There are frequent grammatical errors throughout the letter, including issues with verb tenses ('I writing,' 'I start English classes'), subject-verb agreement, and sentence structure. Many sentences are simple, and there is a lack of complex sentence structures. Punctuation is also inconsistent, particularly with capitalization and the use of commas. These errors occasionally make it difficult for the reader to follow your meaning. To improve, focus on mastering basic sentence construction, ensuring consistent verb tenses, and proofreading for common errors like missing articles and incorrect prepositions.

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

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