Band 5.0 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 5.0 · Cambridge IELTS 19 · 2026-08-28

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 Mr.Patel,

I am writing to inform could you reduce my working hours in order to study part time.

I am thinking of study part time to get a degree in Business .So that , I can put the degree in my portfolio . To study as a part time , I want reduce my working hours.

I would like to work on weekends and on two weekdays too .The two weekdays are thursday and fridays rest of the week I can for college to study.This is how I can balance studies and work life.

If I get degree in Business .Then, It will be benefit to my profession that , I am currently working in.

The degree is alining the profession .Then I can improve the business profits . techniques to attract the customers these are the things learning from part time studies .

kind regards,

Shiva Arun Kumar.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 5.5

The letter addresses all three bullet points: the reason for the request, the proposed schedule, and the benefits to the employer. However, the development of these ideas is quite limited. The explanation of how the degree benefits the employer is vague, relying on general statements like 'improve the business profits' without specific context. While the task is addressed, the lack of depth and the brevity of the arguments mean it sits at the lower end of the criteria. To improve, you should expand on how your specific studies will translate into practical workplace improvements.

Coherence and Cohesion — Band 5.0

The letter is organised into paragraphs, which is a positive step. However, the logical flow is often disrupted by awkward phrasing and mechanical use of cohesive devices. For example, the transition 'If I get degree in Business .Then, It will be benefit' is disjointed and grammatically incorrect. The use of punctuation is also inconsistent, with spaces placed incorrectly before periods and commas. While the reader can follow the general intent, the lack of smooth transitions and the repetitive sentence structure hinder the overall flow of the letter.

Lexical Resource — Band 5.0

The vocabulary is basic and repetitive. You rely on simple terms like 'study', 'work', and 'degree' throughout the text. There are also errors in word choice and collocation, such as 'alining the profession' (likely meaning 'aligning with my profession') and 'it will be benefit' (should be 'beneficial'). The range of vocabulary is insufficient to express complex ideas clearly. To improve, try to incorporate more professional terminology related to business and workplace communication, and ensure you use words in their correct grammatical form.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 4.5

There are frequent grammatical errors throughout the letter that occasionally impede clarity. Common issues include incorrect verb forms ('I am thinking of study' instead of 'studying'), missing articles ('get degree' instead of 'get a degree'), and poor sentence structure ('I am writing to inform could you reduce'). Punctuation is also a significant issue, with many sentences starting with lowercase letters or having unnecessary spaces before punctuation marks. The range of structures is very limited, consisting mostly of simple sentences. You need to focus on basic sentence construction and subject-verb agreement.

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