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

I hope this letter finds you well. I am writing to this letter about reducing my working hours due to part - time studies.

My higher education classes will be start next month so I would not continue working as full time so I request to you please reduce my working hours.my classes will be on three days at a week so I can work remaining days.

My classes will be on Monday, Thursday and Friday so

I should work on Saturday and Sunday full day and Tuesday and Wednesday at afternoon shift. I take one week off during my exam time.

I joined in business management course it will be helpful in our business. I studied their marketing strategy and how to make more profitable our business at the end of the year so Make sure it is very helpful in

Future.

I kindly request that to you reduce my working hours , I would appreciate if it you consider request.

Your faithfully

Nimisha

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 development of these points is somewhat limited. While you mention the business management course, the explanation of how it will benefit the company is a bit vague and repetitive. To improve, you should provide more specific examples of how the skills learned in your studies will be applied to your current role. The tone is generally appropriate for a formal letter, though the opening 'Dear sir' is generic; using a specific name or 'Dear Manager' would be more professional.

Coherence and Cohesion — Band 6.0

The letter is organized into short paragraphs, which helps the reader follow your points. However, the use of cohesive devices is quite limited and sometimes mechanical. For instance, you rely heavily on simple sentence structures, and there is a lack of linking words to connect your ideas smoothly (e.g., using 'furthermore', 'consequently', or 'in addition'). The transition between the schedule and the benefits of the course is abrupt. Improving the flow between sentences and using a wider range of cohesive devices would significantly enhance the clarity and professional quality of your writing.

Lexical Resource — Band 5.5

Your vocabulary is sufficient to convey your message, but it is quite basic and repetitive. You use phrases like 'help' and 'helpful' multiple times, which limits the sophistication of your writing. There are also some minor errors in word choice and collocation, such as 'I joined in business management course' (should be 'I have enrolled in a business management course') and 'make more profitable our business' (should be 'increase the profitability of our business'). To reach a higher band, try to incorporate more precise business-related terminology and avoid repeating the same words in close proximity.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 5.0

There are frequent grammatical errors throughout the letter, including issues with verb tenses ('classes will be start'), prepositions ('on three days at a week'), and sentence structure ('I would not continue working as full time'). The punctuation is also inconsistent, particularly with capitalization and the use of commas. While the meaning is generally clear, these errors are noticeable and detract from the professional tone required for a formal letter. You should focus on mastering basic sentence construction, specifically subject-verb agreement and correct tense usage, before attempting more complex structures.

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

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