Band 5.5 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer
Overall Band Score: 5.5 · 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 5.5)
Dear Parveen Kumar
I am writing this latter to request you to reduce my working hours as , am spending overtime on work, Which is more beneficial for the company .I wanted to increase the productivity in this company so I am thinking about taking short course as a part time study .
Moreover, i would like to inform my work duration , during taking classes of part time course .While my teacher allowed me to attend evening classes at 5pm to 9pm .Then i could be available in the morning hours before 5pm .
In spite of this study is about cost estimating and budgeting .In this study i would be the experienced guy after learning ,not even estimating job s material or also differentiate the cost of the material from the stores ,So it will enhance the budget of the company forb new projects .Which increase the productivity .
Overall it was the reason i want to reduce my working hours .
Thank you
Jaskaran singh
AI examiner evaluation
| Criterion | Band |
|---|---|
| Task Achievement / Task Response | 5.5 |
| Coherence and Cohesion | 5.5 |
| Lexical Resource | 5.0 |
| Grammatical Range and Accuracy | 5.0 |
| Overall | 5.5 |
Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 5.5
The letter addresses all three bullet points: the reason for the request, the proposed hours, and the benefits to the employer. However, the development of these ideas is somewhat limited and occasionally unclear. For instance, the explanation of how the study benefits the company is slightly confusing due to awkward phrasing regarding 'estimating job s material'. While the purpose of the letter is clear, the tone is inconsistent and lacks the professional polish expected in a formal business request. To improve, ensure that the connection between your studies and the company's productivity is articulated more logically and clearly.
Coherence and Cohesion — Band 5.5
The letter is organised into paragraphs, which helps the reader follow the structure. However, the use of cohesive devices is often mechanical or inaccurate. For example, 'In spite of this' is used incorrectly to introduce a new point, and 'Which increase the productivity' is a sentence fragment that disrupts the flow. The transition between the request for hours and the explanation of the course is abrupt. Improving the use of linking words and ensuring that each sentence connects logically to the previous one will significantly enhance the coherence of your writing.
Lexical Resource — Band 5.0
The vocabulary is generally limited and repetitive. There are several instances of word-choice errors, such as 'experienced guy' (too informal) and 'estimating job s material' (unclear collocation). The spelling errors, such as 'latter' instead of 'letter' and 'forb' instead of 'for', also detract from the overall quality. To achieve a higher band, you should focus on using more precise, professional vocabulary suitable for a workplace context and pay closer attention to spelling and standard collocations.
Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 5.0
The response relies heavily on simple sentence structures, and there are frequent errors in grammar and punctuation that occasionally impede readability. Issues include incorrect verb tense usage (e.g., 'am spending overtime'), missing articles, and improper sentence boundaries, such as the fragment 'Which is more beneficial for the company'. Punctuation is also inconsistent, with spaces placed incorrectly before commas. To improve, you should practice using a wider variety of complex sentence structures and proofread carefully to eliminate basic grammatical slips.
See this exact question answered at other band scores — the same prompt compared across bands.
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