Band 6.0 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 6.0 · Cambridge IELTS 19 · 2026-09-05

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 6.0)

Dear Sir,

I hope you are doing well; I am Writing to request you to reduce my working hours in order to study part time.

To begin with, I would like to explain that the reason behind this request is, I want to study further in my field. That is why I want to do part-time work in your company and pay attention to my study.

To begin with, I would like to explain that I took the admission in evening, and my classes will start from 3 pm. so I can work 5 hours in a day rather than 8 hours. I can do work from 10 to 2 pm.

I would appreciate if you can reduce my hours 8 to 5 in a day. My study will boost my career in future and I will do work more efficiently after this study.

Thank you for your time and consideration.

Kind Regards,

Kinza

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 6.0

The letter addresses all three bullet points: the reason for the request, the proposed hours, and the benefits to the employer. However, the development of these points is somewhat limited. The explanation of how the studies benefit the employer is quite brief ('I will do work more efficiently'), lacking specific detail or professional justification. While the tone is appropriate for a formal letter, the content could be expanded to provide a more persuasive argument for the employer. The structure is clear, but the ideas remain at a surface level, which prevents the response from reaching a higher band.

Coherence and Cohesion — Band 6.0

The letter is organized into logical paragraphs, and the progression of ideas is generally clear. However, the use of cohesive devices is repetitive and somewhat mechanical. For instance, the phrase 'To begin with' is used twice in consecutive paragraphs, which is redundant and awkward. The transition between the request and the specific hours is functional but lacks sophisticated linking. Paragraphing is present, but the internal flow within paragraphs could be improved by using a wider variety of linking words to connect the ideas more naturally.

Lexical Resource — Band 5.5

The vocabulary is adequate for the task but lacks range and precision. The student relies on basic phrasing, such as 'do work' and 'study further'. There are some minor errors in word choice, such as 'I took the admission', which is not a natural collocation in this context. While the meaning is always clear, the lack of more sophisticated or professional vocabulary limits the score. To improve, the student should focus on using more precise business-related terminology and avoiding repetitive, simple verb phrases.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 5.5

The response contains a mix of simple and complex sentence structures. There are several grammatical errors, such as 'I am Writing' (unnecessary capitalization), 'I can do work from 10 to 2 pm' (missing preposition), and 'reduce my hours 8 to 5' (unclear phrasing). Punctuation is generally functional, but there are issues with sentence boundaries, such as the run-on sentence in the second paragraph. While these errors do not prevent the reader from understanding the message, they occur frequently enough to impact the overall fluency and accuracy of the writing.

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

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