Band 5.5 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 5.5 · Cambridge IELTS 19 · 2026-08-29

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 Mr. Nitin,

I am writing this email regarding to reduce my work hours from full time to part time. As i am planning to join an institution for my upcoming pharmacist exam.

As we discussed i want to become a pharmacist here and right now i am working here as pharmacy assistant. So for that i have book the exam and to pass the exam with flying colors i have to study hard and i can not work full time and study together so for that i want you reduce my hours to part time and as i am thinking about Monday to Wednesday work and the remaining four days i will study the institution i have joined.

However you know if i will get the license it will very helpful for our store as well that i can work here as a pharmacist and it will reduce your workload as well.

Thank you For understanding.

Your Faithfully,

NAIKUL

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 6.0

You have addressed all three bullet points required by 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 basic. For instance, while you mention the benefit of becoming a pharmacist, you could have expanded more on how this would specifically improve store operations or customer service. The tone is generally appropriate for a formal letter, though the structure could be more professional. To improve, ensure that each point is fully extended with clear, logical explanations rather than just stating the facts.

Coherence and Cohesion — Band 5.5

The letter follows a logical progression, moving from the request to the justification and finally the benefits. However, the use of cohesive devices is quite limited and sometimes repetitive. You rely heavily on 'and' and 'so' to connect ideas, which makes the flow feel a bit mechanical. Paragraphing is also insufficient; the entire body of the letter is contained within two long, dense paragraphs. Using more varied transition words (e.g., 'consequently', 'furthermore', 'in addition') and breaking the text into distinct paragraphs for each main point would significantly improve the clarity and professional appearance of your writing.

Lexical Resource — Band 5.5

Your vocabulary is adequate for the task but lacks variety and precision. You use simple phrases like 'study hard' and 'very helpful', which are functional but do not demonstrate a wide range of vocabulary. There are also some minor errors in word choice, such as 'regarding to reduce' (should be 'regarding reducing') and 'book the exam' (should be 'booked the exam'). To reach a higher band, try to incorporate more specific, professional terminology related to your workplace and academic goals, such as 'professional development', 'accreditation', or 'operational efficiency'.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 5.0

There are frequent grammatical errors throughout the letter, particularly regarding verb tenses and sentence structure. For example, 'I am writing this email regarding to reduce' is grammatically incorrect, and 'i have book the exam' should be 'I have booked the exam'. Additionally, many sentences are run-on sentences joined by 'and', which lacks grammatical sophistication. You should focus on using a mix of simple and complex sentences, ensuring that subject-verb agreement and tense consistency are maintained. Proofreading for basic punctuation and capitalization (e.g., always capitalizing 'I') is essential for improving your accuracy.

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

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