Band 5.0 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 5.0 · Cambridge IELTS 19 · 2026-09-04

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 5.0)

Dear Mr

I am writing to discuss a proposed adjustment to my working hours. As you know l'have been with team for over many years and i am deeply committed to my role and our upcoming projects.

Recently i am applied for part time advance certification program in machine learning & data engineeringfor that i required time to study& practice. To successfully balance my responsibilities I would like to request to reduce my working hours from 5 days to 4 days a week from the beginning of the month. Specifically I would like to work from Monday to Thursday

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 4.0

The response fails to meet the minimum word count requirement of 150 words, as it is only 99 words long. Consequently, the development of ideas is significantly restricted. While you have addressed the first two bullet points—explaining the need for reduced hours and specifying the desired schedule—you have completely omitted the third bullet point regarding how your studies would benefit the employer. To achieve a higher band, you must ensure all parts of the prompt are addressed in detail and that the letter reaches the required length to allow for full development of your arguments.

Coherence and Cohesion — Band 5.0

The letter lacks a clear structure and sufficient paragraphing. While there is a basic attempt to organize the information, the lack of length prevents the development of a logical flow. Cohesive devices are minimal, and the transition between the explanation of your studies and the request for hours is abrupt. To improve, you should use clear paragraph breaks for each point requested in the prompt and employ a wider range of linking words (e.g., 'furthermore', 'consequently', 'in addition') to connect your ideas more fluidly.

Lexical Resource — Band 5.0

The vocabulary used is functional but basic. There are several errors in word choice and formation, such as 'Recently i am applied' instead of 'I have recently applied' and 'advance certification' instead of 'advanced certification'. The range of vocabulary is limited, which restricts your ability to convey your message with precision. To improve, focus on using more formal business-appropriate terminology and ensure you are using the correct word forms (e.g., adjectives vs. nouns) to enhance the professional tone of your correspondence.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 5.0

There are frequent grammatical errors throughout the text that occasionally impede the flow of reading. Examples include 'l'have been with team' (missing article), 'i am applied' (incorrect tense), and 'for that i required' (incorrect tense). Punctuation is also inconsistent, with missing periods and improper capitalization of the pronoun 'I'. The sentence structures are relatively simple, and there is a lack of complex grammatical forms. You should focus on subject-verb agreement, correct tense usage for past and present actions, and standard punctuation rules.

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

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