Band 6.5 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 6.5 · 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 6.5)

Dear Mr. Singh,

I am writing to request a reduction in my working hours because I decided to do a part-time job. So if I do work and study together then it will be difficult for me to manage both studies and work. So, this is the main reason I want to reduction in my hours.

Ideally, I would like to work from Monday to Friday between 8:a.m. to 2:00

p.m. Because of this, I will manage both studies and work properly. This schedule allows me to do work 6 hours a day. Due to this, I can give more time to my studies. I would be happy to do extra work on weekdays if company needs more staff.

Additionally, my part-time studies would also benefit comapny because I am going to enroll in business market course. Because of this, I can improve my communication skills as well as management skills which will benefit company.

I hope you will consider my request and I would be happy to discuss the proposed schedule with you at a convenient time. I look forward to hearing from you.

Yours Sincerely,

Komal

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 6.5

You have addressed all three bullet points in the prompt: explaining the reason for the request, specifying the desired hours, and describing the benefits to the employer. The tone is appropriate for a formal letter to a manager. However, the development of ideas is somewhat repetitive. For instance, you mention the need to balance work and study multiple times in the first two paragraphs. To reach a higher band, try to expand on the specific benefits of your course to the company with more detail, rather than just stating it will improve your skills. Overall, the purpose of the letter is clear and the requirements are met.

Coherence and Cohesion — Band 6.5

The letter is logically organized into clear paragraphs, each serving a specific purpose. You use some cohesive devices such as 'Additionally' and 'Because of this' to link your ideas. However, the use of cohesive devices is sometimes repetitive and mechanical. For example, you start three consecutive sentences in the second paragraph with 'Because of this' or 'Due to this'. Improving the variety of your linking words and ensuring smoother transitions between sentences would enhance the flow of your writing. Paragraphing is used appropriately to separate the introduction, body, and conclusion.

Lexical Resource — Band 6.0

You have an adequate range of vocabulary to convey your message clearly. You use some topic-specific terms like 'part-time studies', 'schedule', and 'communication skills'. However, there are some minor errors and instances of limited word choice, such as 'business market course' (which sounds slightly unnatural) and the spelling error 'comapny'. To improve, try to incorporate more precise collocations and avoid repeating the same phrases. Your vocabulary is sufficient to communicate your request effectively, but it lacks the flexibility and sophistication required for higher bands.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 6.0

You demonstrate a mix of simple and complex sentence structures. While your meaning is generally clear, there are several grammatical errors, such as 'I want to reduction' (should be 'I want a reduction') and 'if company needs' (missing an article). Additionally, there are some punctuation and formatting issues, such as '8:a.m.'. While these errors do not impede communication, they occur frequently enough to prevent a higher score. To improve, focus on subject-verb agreement, the correct use of articles, and ensuring that your sentence structures are grammatically sound.

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

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