Band 6.0 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 6.0 · Cambridge IELTS 19 · 2026-09-01

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 smith,

I would like to request for the cut down on my working hours because i intend to pursue a part time course. I would start my course of Business Insights and Analytics and this could would be six months long.

As this is a part time course study so I just have classes just 3 days a week. Rest of the week I can work properly. I am truly confident that I will complete all the assigned tasks before time while enrol in education.

In this program, i would learn numerous skills, for instance project management, business analysis, data analysis, team work which would definitely help me while working in your company. In future if you need any help in these field so i can work on these fields as well.

I hope you understand and I look forward for your response.

Thank you

Sincerely

Himanshi

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 5.5

The letter covers all three bullet points: the reason for the request, the proposed schedule, and the benefits to the employer. However, the response is slightly under the 150-word minimum, which impacts the overall development of ideas. While the purpose is clear, the explanation of the schedule is a bit vague ('3 days a week'), and the benefits section could be expanded with more specific examples of how the skills would be applied in the workplace. The tone is generally appropriate for a formal letter, though it lacks a professional opening salutation (e.g., 'Dear Mr. Smith').

Coherence and Cohesion — Band 6.0

The letter is organized into logical paragraphs, which helps the reader follow the progression of ideas. However, the use of cohesive devices is somewhat limited and repetitive. For example, the transition between the explanation of the course and the work schedule is abrupt. The letter relies on simple sentence structures, and the flow could be improved by using a wider variety of linking words or phrases to connect the ideas more fluidly. Paragraphing is present, but the overall structure feels a bit mechanical.

Lexical Resource — Band 6.0

The vocabulary is adequate for the task but lacks variety and precision. Phrases like 'cut down on my working hours' and 'work properly' are quite informal and basic. While the student attempts to use topic-specific vocabulary such as 'Business Insights and Analytics' and 'project management,' the overall range is limited. There are minor errors in word choice, such as 'enrol in education' instead of 'enrolling in my studies.' To improve, the student should focus on using more professional collocations and avoiding repetitive phrasing.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 5.5

The letter contains a mix of simple and complex sentence structures, but there are frequent grammatical errors that occasionally distract the reader. Examples include 'I would start my course... and this could would be' (redundant modal verbs), 'As this is a part time course study so I just have' (incorrect structure), and 'in these field' (subject-verb agreement). Punctuation is also inconsistent, particularly with the use of lowercase 'i' and missing commas. While the meaning is generally clear, the frequency of these errors prevents a higher score.

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

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