Band 6.0 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 6.0 · 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 6.0)

Dear Robin,

I am writing this email to elaborate a issue I am facing of my working hours.

Firstly, I am working in a morning shift i.e., 7 am to 12 pm and my classes are starting from 9 am as per the new schedule provided from the university.

Furthermore, I would like to request you to reduce my working hours because I am not getting enough time to study as per my previous term experience. I receive low grades in 2 subjects which is concerning me.

Moreover, as per my new schedule I will be able to work for part-time on weekends for 18 total hours for Saturday and Sunday.

Lastly, I request you to make this changes and it will be beneficial for my job as well in respect to practical knowledge.

Please let me know your thoughts on the same and I hope you understand my concerns regarding studies. Thank you.

Kind regards,

Ted

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 6.0

You have addressed all three bullet points in the prompt: explaining the reason for the request, specifying the desired hours, and describing the benefits to the employer. However, the development of these points is somewhat limited. For example, the explanation of how your studies benefit the employer is quite vague, stating only that it will help with 'practical knowledge' without explaining how this applies to your specific role. To reach a higher band, you should provide more specific details or examples of how your new skills will add value to the company. The tone is generally appropriate for a formal letter, though the structure could be more professional.

Coherence and Cohesion — Band 6.0

The letter is logically organized, with each paragraph addressing a specific requirement of the task. You use transition words like 'Firstly', 'Furthermore', 'Moreover', and 'Lastly' to guide the reader. However, the use of these devices is somewhat mechanical and repetitive. Additionally, the paragraphing is a bit fragmented; some paragraphs consist of only one or two sentences, which disrupts the flow. To improve, try to combine related ideas into more cohesive paragraphs and use a wider variety of linking phrases to connect your thoughts more naturally rather than relying on a list-like structure.

Lexical Resource — Band 6.0

Your vocabulary is adequate for the task, allowing you to communicate your needs clearly. You use some relevant terms such as 'schedule', 'part-time', and 'beneficial'. However, the range is somewhat limited, and there are instances of awkward phrasing, such as 'elaborate a issue' (should be 'elaborate on an issue') and 'work for part-time'. To improve, focus on using more precise collocations and avoiding repetitive sentence starters. Expanding your vocabulary to include more professional business terminology would help you achieve a higher score.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 6.0

You demonstrate a mix of simple and complex sentence structures. While the meaning is generally clear, there are several grammatical errors that occur throughout the text. For instance, 'I am working in a morning shift' should be 'I work the morning shift', and 'make this changes' should be 'make these changes'. Additionally, there are minor issues with preposition usage and article placement. While these errors do not impede communication, they are frequent enough to prevent a higher band score. Focus on subject-verb agreement and pluralization to improve your accuracy.

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

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