Band 5.5 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 5.5 · Cambridge IELTS 19 · 2026-08-30

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 Sir,

I am writing this to request reduction in my weekly working hours so that I can pursue my part-time Master's in Data Science. I would like to work 21 hours in a week and prefer at least one of the day from weekends.

I have enrolled in UBC's part-time Master's in Data Science course last week. However, this is a part-time course but it require 2 days of in-person classes per week and 1 day online. Additionally, there will have been projects and assignment to complete during the course. Therefore, in order to maintaining balance between my studies and work, I need reduction in my working hours.

I will prefer 3 morning shifts for a week on Friday, Saturday and Sunday. It will perfectly aligned with my school's schedule. In case, you need some temporary adjustments, I am also ready

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 5.0

You have addressed all three bullet points in the prompt, explaining your reasons, specifying your preferred hours, and mentioning the benefits. However, the letter is incomplete as it ends abruptly mid-sentence ('I am also ready'). Furthermore, the response is under the 150-word minimum, which significantly impacts your score. To improve, ensure you fully develop your ideas—for example, you mentioned the benefits to the employer but did not elaborate on how your new data science skills would specifically help the company. You must also ensure the letter is finished with a proper closing statement and sign-off to meet the requirements of a formal letter.

Coherence and Cohesion — Band 6.0

The letter follows a logical structure, with each paragraph focusing on a specific requirement of the task. You use basic cohesive devices like 'However' and 'Therefore' to link ideas. However, the abrupt ending of the letter disrupts the overall flow and coherence. To reach a higher band, ensure that your paragraphing is consistent and that you use a wider range of linking words to connect sentences more fluidly. The lack of a formal sign-off (e.g., 'Yours sincerely') also detracts from the professional tone required for this task.

Lexical Resource — Band 6.0

You demonstrate an adequate range of vocabulary for the task, using terms like 'pursue', 'enrolled', and 'adjustments'. However, there are some minor inaccuracies in word choice and collocation, such as 'prefer at least one of the day' (should be 'days') and 'It will perfectly aligned' (should be 'align'). The vocabulary is functional but lacks the variety and precision needed for higher bands. To improve, try to incorporate more sophisticated collocations related to professional requests and academic study.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 5.5

You attempt a mix of simple and complex sentence structures, but there are several grammatical errors that hinder clarity. For example, 'this is a part-time course but it require' (should be 'requires'), 'there will have been projects' (should be 'there will be'), and 'in order to maintaining' (should be 'in order to maintain'). These errors are frequent enough to be noticeable. To improve, focus on subject-verb agreement and the correct use of verb tenses. Proofreading your work for these common slips will help you achieve a higher level of accuracy.

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

Browse more IELTS Writing model answers or get your own writing scored by the same AI examiner.