Band 5.5 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 5.5 · Cambridge IELTS 19 · 2026-09-02

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,

As an employee at your restaurant, I'm writing this letter to request that my working hours be reduced in order for me to study part time.

I have been working full time which is 40 hours a week since I joined this restaurant. But recently, I've decided to study part time in order to get a diploma in culinary arts. For me to complete this culinary course, I need to complete 20 hours of training each week. Since, I'm already working in this restaurant full time, this becomes quite impossible for me.

Furthermore, I need to attend college on the first three days of the week. Since my usual shifts are already on weekends which is the busiest time, I believe there won't be much change in my current schedule. Moreover, I am willing to work the rest of the days of the week.

Furthermore, I believe this diploma can be very beneficial both for me and the restaurant. Since this restaurant requires a chef, I belive I could be very helf

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 5.0

The letter addresses all three bullet points: the reason for the request, the preferred hours, and the benefits to the employer. However, the response is incomplete, as it cuts off mid-sentence at the end ('I belive I could be very helf'). Because the final paragraph is unfinished, the third bullet point is not fully developed, and the letter lacks a proper closing. While the initial points are clear, the failure to complete the task significantly impacts the overall communication and task fulfilment.

Coherence and Cohesion — Band 6.0

The letter uses paragraphing to separate ideas, which helps the reader follow the structure. Cohesive devices such as 'Furthermore', 'Moreover', and 'Since' are used to link sentences. However, the abrupt ending disrupts the flow of the final paragraph. The logical progression is generally clear, but the lack of a concluding sentence or a formal sign-off (e.g., 'Yours sincerely') makes the letter feel incomplete and structurally deficient.

Lexical Resource — Band 6.0

The vocabulary is generally adequate for the task, using terms like 'culinary arts', 'diploma', and 'full time'. There are some minor errors, such as 'hel-f' (incomplete) and 'belive' (spelling). The range is sufficient to convey the intended meaning, but it lacks the sophistication or variety expected at higher bands. The vocabulary is functional but limited to basic, repetitive structures.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 5.5

The letter contains a mix of simple and complex sentences. There are some grammatical errors, such as 'Since, I'm already working' (unnecessary comma) and 'which is the busiest time' (should be 'which are'). The sentence structure is generally understandable, but the incomplete final sentence demonstrates a lack of control. Punctuation is mostly correct, but the overall accuracy is hampered by the unfinished state of the text.

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.