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 boss,

Hope you are doing well. I am writing this to inform you that I have to do part-time studies due to that I have to reduce my working hours to attend the classes. I have classes from 9am to 12pm in every office day and I am totally fine to do my job after classes from 1pm to 5 pm. This is only 2-month course which is really beneficial for us because I am not very good at marketing skills and how to manage sales these studies are relates to that and that's the only reason why I take these studies to do something good for company. After that, I am totally perfect for the company for any position. Hopefully you understand my situation and willing to give permission to work on my above-mentioned hours.

Your's

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 5.0

The letter addresses all three bullet points: the reason for the request, the proposed hours, 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 benefit the employer is somewhat vague and repetitive, lacking the professional depth expected in a formal request. To improve, you should expand on the specific skills you will acquire and how they will be applied to your current role to better persuade your manager.

Coherence and Cohesion — Band 5.5

The letter is written as a single block of text, which lacks appropriate paragraphing. While the ideas follow a logical sequence, the lack of clear paragraph breaks makes the letter feel rushed and informal. Cohesive devices are minimal; for example, the transition between the reason for the request and the proposed hours is abrupt. Using linking words such as 'consequently,' 'furthermore,' or 'in addition' would help improve the flow and structure of your writing, making it easier for the reader to follow your argument.

Lexical Resource — Band 5.0

The vocabulary is quite basic and repetitive. Phrases like 'totally fine,' 'totally perfect,' and 'do something good' are too informal for a business letter. There are also errors in word choice and collocation, such as 'these studies are relates to that' and 'willing to give permission.' To reach a higher band, you should aim for more precise, professional terminology related to workplace communication and professional development, and avoid colloquial fillers like 'totally.'

Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 5.0

The letter contains several grammatical errors that affect clarity. There are issues with sentence structure, such as run-on sentences and incorrect verb forms (e.g., 'these studies are relates to that' should be 'these studies relate to that'). Punctuation is also inconsistent, particularly the lack of a proper closing and the informal 'Your's' instead of 'Yours sincerely.' The range of structures is limited to simple sentences; incorporating complex sentences with subordinate clauses would demonstrate better grammatical control.

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

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