Band 6.0 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 6.0 · Cambridge IELTS 19 · 2026-09-12

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 am writing to ask if i could reduce my working hours because i would like to study part time. I have decided to take a course in computer skills, which will help me improve my knowledge and develop my career.

At present, I work full time from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.

I would like to work from 9 a.m. to 2. p.m. Monday to Friday. This schedule give enough time to attend my classes in the afternoon and complete my studies.

I believe my skills will benefit for the company. I will learn new computer skills and ability to use different software. These skills could help me work more quickly and accurately.

I will also be able to complete my new task and help my colleagues better when ever they need my help.

I hope you will consider my help. And i am happy to discuss with you.

Yours faithfully,

Ahmad.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 6.0

The response covers all bullet points required in the task instructions clearly and directly. The student successfully explains the reason for reducing working hours by mentioning a computer skills course, states the precise hours they wish to work from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. Monday to Friday, and describes how the studies will benefit the employer through improved software efficiency, accuracy, and better support for colleagues. The tone is appropriate for a formal letter to a boss. Although some ideas could be slightly more extended to reach the higher bands, all parts of the prompt are addressed adequately, showing a clear purpose and relevant ideas throughout. This meets the criteria for Band 6.5, rounded to 6.0 based on the level of idea development.

Coherence and Cohesion — Band 6.5

The letter exhibits a coherent overall arrangement with a logical progression of ideas. It opens with the purpose of the letter, moves into current working hours, proposes the new schedule, details the benefits to the company, and closes with a polite call to action. Paragraphing is used appropriately to separate different points, such as the schedule and the benefits. However, referencing and cohesive devices are at times basic or slightly mechanical, such as repeating 'skills' and starting sentences simply. Overall, the organization is clear and easy to follow, justifying a solid score in this category.

Lexical Resource — Band 6.0

The student uses an adequate range of vocabulary for the task, such as 'full time', 'colleagues', and 'accurately'. There are some attempts at less common phrasing like 'develop my career' and 'work more quickly and accurately'. However, there are minor lexical inaccuracies, such as saying 'benefit for the company' instead of 'benefit the company', and a repeated reliance on basic vocabulary items like 'skills' and 'help'. Spelling is generally accurate, and the vocabulary used does not impede communication, allowing for a clear understanding of the writer's message throughout the letter.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 6.0

The response features a mix of simple and complex sentence forms, such as 'I am writing to ask if i could reduce my working hours because i would like to study part time.' There are some good control structures, but grammar and punctuation contain notable mechanical errors, particularly the lack of capitalization for the pronoun 'i' in multiple instances, and a fragment in 'This schedule give enough time' (should be 'gives'). Additionally, 'when ever' should be written as one word 'whenever'. While these errors do not impede communication, their frequency prevents the writing from reaching Band 7.

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

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