Band 5.5 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 5.5 · 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 5.5)

Dear sir,

i am writing about the minimise hours of my work due to my part time study. Now, i enroll in MBA program so i can not work full time due to immigration rule. This study is very beneficial for my upcoming future because i will doing MBA in hotel management so i also work in the hospitality so this degree would more beneficial for me and the growth of my job. Moreover, my class timing is in early morning so i can start my work easily in evening so you may schedule in evening. Although it would be difficult for them to schedule me on that time, i know you can easily manage because this job is very beneficial for my future that is why i enroll in MBA program

because when i will do this program, it would be more fruitful to manage all business and know about what we will be do to improve it and take action for better development.

I hope you would reduce my working hours in next schedule, so i will thank you.

Your Faithfully,

Gagan

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 6.0

The letter covers all three bullet points: the reason for the request, the preferred hours, and the benefits to the employer. However, the development of these ideas is somewhat repetitive and lacks professional polish. For instance, the explanation of the MBA program is mentioned multiple times without adding new information. The tone is also inconsistent; while it attempts to be formal, it occasionally lapses into a more casual or demanding style, such as 'i know you can easily manage'. To improve, ensure that each bullet point is addressed with distinct, well-developed arguments that maintain a consistently professional and persuasive tone throughout the letter.

Coherence and Cohesion — Band 5.5

The letter is organised into a single block of text, which makes it difficult to follow. IELTS letters should be structured into clear paragraphs: an introduction stating the purpose, body paragraphs for the bullet points, and a concluding sentence. While there are some cohesive devices used, such as 'Moreover' and 'Although', the flow is often interrupted by awkward phrasing and run-on sentences. The lack of paragraphing significantly impacts the logical progression of the letter. Using clear paragraph breaks for each main point would greatly improve the readability and coherence of your writing.

Lexical Resource — Band 5.5

The vocabulary is generally adequate for the task but lacks the precision and variety expected at higher bands. There is significant repetition of words like 'beneficial', 'work', and 'program'. Some word choices are unnatural, such as 'minimise hours of my work' instead of 'reduce my working hours'. Additionally, there are minor errors in word formation, such as 'upcoming future' (which is redundant) and 'fruitful to manage'. To reach a higher band, focus on using more varied synonyms and collocations appropriate for a formal business context, and avoid repeating the same vocabulary within short intervals.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 5.0

There are frequent grammatical errors throughout the text, including issues with subject-verb agreement ('i enroll', 'i will doing'), article usage, and sentence structure. Many sentences are run-on or lack proper punctuation, which makes the text feel disjointed. For example, 'i am writing about the minimise hours of my work' contains a grammatical error in the noun phrase. While the meaning is generally clear, the high frequency of errors in basic structures prevents the writing from reaching a higher band. Focusing on sentence boundaries and consistent verb tense usage will help improve your accuracy significantly.

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

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