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 Loveleen,

I hope you are doing well.

I am writing this mail to request you regarding reducing my work hours because I will be starting my new course and would like to be focus on my studies. This course will led me to a platform where I can understand better opportunities as a software developer. The main reason behind choosing this course is that this will beneficial for me to apply in further managerial positions in the company which has a requirement for this course. The course duration will be for six months and during this period I ensure my availability more on weekends 9am-9pm, Wednesday, Friday to Sunday during my course.

Additionally as this course matches with my schedule if you accept my application today I can begin my course by upcoming month.

I will appreciate your time reading my application and if you have any further questions please feel free to ask.

Regards

Aradhna

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 6.0

You have addressed all three bullet points in the prompt: explaining the reason for the reduction, specifying the desired hours, and describing the benefits to the employer. However, the development of these ideas is somewhat limited. For instance, while you mention the course will help with 'managerial positions', you could have elaborated more on how specific skills gained would directly improve your current performance or benefit the company's projects. The tone is appropriate for a formal letter to a manager, and the purpose is clear throughout. To reach a higher band, ensure that your explanations are more detailed and persuasive.

Coherence and Cohesion — Band 6.5

The letter follows a logical structure, moving from the request to the justification and then to the proposed schedule. Paragraphing is present, though the letter is quite short, making the transitions feel a bit abrupt. You use some cohesive devices like 'Additionally', but the flow could be improved with more varied linking words to connect your ideas more fluidly. The referencing is generally clear, and the reader can easily follow your argument. To improve, try to use a wider variety of cohesive devices and ensure that each paragraph has a clear, singular focus.

Lexical Resource — Band 6.0

Your vocabulary is adequate for this task, allowing you to communicate your needs clearly. You use some relevant terms like 'managerial positions' and 'software developer'. However, there are some minor inaccuracies in word choice, such as 'I am writing this mail to request you regarding reducing' (which should be 'to request a reduction in') and 'would like to be focus' (should be 'would like to focus'). To achieve a higher band, aim to use more precise collocations and avoid repetitive phrasing. Expanding your range of vocabulary to include more sophisticated expressions would also be beneficial.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 6.0

You demonstrate a mix of simple and complex sentence structures. While the meaning is generally clear, there are several grammatical errors that occur throughout the text. For example, 'This course will led me' should be 'This course will lead me', and 'this will beneficial' should be 'this will be beneficial'. Additionally, the sentence regarding your availability is quite long and slightly confusing in its structure. While these errors do not prevent the reader from understanding your request, they do indicate a need for more careful proofreading and a better grasp of verb forms and sentence construction.

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

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