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 boss,

I am writing to let you know i would like to reduce my working hours because I would like to continue my studies in computer science. I need more time to study to get amazing grades, which will help me in the future.

i would like to work mornings as a part-time employee. So I will get more time for my studies, cooking, as well as for other work at home. I don't mind doing early mornings because it's also great; I will wake up early, it's gonna me good routine.

So, as i wanna continue my computer science course, in which I will study different languages such as C++, Python, Java, and object oriented program which will help me more at work to use a till. It also has benefits for workplace is there will be any issue, I can easily resolve it with my great knowledge.

Thank you for your consideration.

Your faithfully,

jashan

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 6.0

The letter addresses all three bullet points: the reason for the request, the preferred hours, and the benefits to the employer. However, the development of these ideas is somewhat superficial. For instance, the explanation of how computer science skills would help with a 'till' is not entirely convincing or professional in tone. The letter is also quite informal, using phrases like 'it's gonna me good routine' and 'wanna', which are inappropriate for a formal request to a boss. To improve, you should adopt a more professional tone and provide more substantial, realistic examples of how your studies will add value to the company.

Coherence and Cohesion — Band 6.0

The letter is organised into paragraphs, which helps the reader follow the structure. However, the use of cohesive devices is quite basic and sometimes repetitive, such as the frequent use of 'so' to start sentences. The flow between ideas is occasionally disjointed, particularly in the second paragraph where the mention of 'cooking' and 'other work at home' is irrelevant to the request and distracts from the professional purpose of the letter. Improving the use of linking words (e.g., 'consequently', 'furthermore', 'in addition') would help create a more professional and logical progression.

Lexical Resource — Band 5.5

The vocabulary is limited and often informal. You rely on simple, repetitive words like 'good' and 'help'. The use of 'wanna' and 'gonna' is inappropriate for a formal letter. While you attempt to use technical terms like 'computer science', 'C++', and 'object oriented program', the surrounding language lacks the precision and professional register required for a higher band. To improve, focus on using more formal vocabulary suitable for a workplace context and avoid colloquial contractions.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 5.0

There are frequent grammatical errors throughout the text, including issues with subject-verb agreement ('it's gonna me good'), missing articles, and incorrect pronoun usage ('i' should be capitalized). The sentence structures are predominantly simple, with few attempts at complex sentences. Punctuation is also inconsistent, particularly with the use of commas and the closing salutation ('Your faithfully' should be 'Yours faithfully'). To improve, focus on basic sentence construction, capitalization, and proofreading for common errors.

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

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