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 Mr. Thompson,

I am writing to request a reduction in my working hours in order for me to study part time. I just gained admission to study optometry at the Imo state university, as you may be aware it is a clinical course and it requires adequate attention in order for me to scale through. In addition, the company is in dire need of an optometrist. I observed that eye doctor you employed have little knowledge on the profession. Consequently, I need your permission in order for me to work 2 days in a week with Saturday included as it would enable me concentrate in my studies and also generate income to sponsor my education.

I believe that acquiring this degree will have a positive impact in the company especially as there will be instrumentation clinicals which majority of eye doctors are yet to know about it.

Thank you, I hope my request is considered and attended promptly.

Yours faithfully

Ajawara Chidimma

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 6.0

The letter covers all three bullet points: the reason for the request, the proposed schedule, and the benefits to the employer. However, the tone is occasionally inappropriate for a formal letter to a boss. For instance, stating that the current eye doctors have 'little knowledge' is unprofessional and potentially offensive. While the ideas are relevant, the development of the 'benefit' section is slightly weak, as it focuses more on the student's personal gain than a clear, professional value proposition for the company. The purpose is clear, but the professional register needs improvement to fully meet the requirements of a formal business letter.

Coherence and Cohesion — Band 6.5

The letter is logically organized, with a clear introduction, body, and closing. The progression of ideas is generally easy to follow. However, the use of cohesive devices is somewhat mechanical. Phrases like 'In addition' and 'Consequently' are used correctly, but the transitions between the personal need for study and the professional benefit to the company feel a bit abrupt. Paragraphing is present, but the letter would benefit from a more distinct separation between the request details and the justification for the employer. Overall, the message is coherent, but the flow could be more sophisticated.

Lexical Resource — Band 6.0

The vocabulary is adequate for the task, allowing the student to express their needs clearly. There are some attempts at more specific terminology, such as 'optometry' and 'instrumentation clinicals'. However, there are instances of awkward word choice and collocation errors, such as 'scale through' (an informal idiom) and 'eye doctor you employed have little knowledge' (which is imprecise and grammatically awkward). The range is sufficient to convey the message, but the lack of precision and the occasional use of informal phrasing limit the score.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 6.0

The student uses a mix of simple and complex sentence structures. There are several grammatical errors that occur throughout the text, such as 'I just gained admission' (tense usage), 'it requires adequate attention in order for me to scale through' (missing object/preposition), and 'enable me concentrate' (missing 'to'). Punctuation is generally functional, but there are some run-on sentences that affect clarity. While these errors do not completely impede communication, they are frequent enough to prevent a higher band score. More attention to subject-verb agreement and infinitive structures is needed.

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

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