Band 6.5 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer
Overall Band Score: 6.5 · Cambridge IELTS 19 · 2026-09-18
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 6.5)
Dear Dr Rian,
I hope you are well. I am writing this letter to inform you that I have secured admission in a 1 year Medical assisstant diploma program. But the only issue is that, my class timings are clashing with my current working hours. Therefore, I would like you to reduce my working hours from full-time to part-time.
It would be great if you could allow me to work in the evening shift from 2PM to 6PM, as these hours would work the best for me. This way I will be able to fully focus on my study as well as my work.
Moreover, this diploma program is offering me to study subjects which align perfectly with my current job duties and after completing this course, I will become eligible to apply for my professional Medical assistant lisence. It will give me hands-on experience in patient care, which I can use while working in your company. I believe it will increase my knowledge of patient handling and managing workflow in a better way.
I hope you will understand my situation and will accept my request.
Looking forward to your response.
Yours faitfully,
Noor
AI examiner evaluation
| Criterion | Band |
|---|---|
| Task Achievement / Task Response | 6.5 |
| Coherence and Cohesion | 6.5 |
| Lexical Resource | 6.0 |
| Grammatical Range and Accuracy | 6.0 |
| Overall | 6.5 |
Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 6.5
The response successfully covers all three bullet points required in the task instructions. The student clearly explains the reason for wanting to reduce working hours, stating that they have secured admission in a Medical Assistant diploma program. The desired hours are specifically outlined as the evening shift from 2 PM to 6 PM. Furthermore, the benefit to the employer is well articulated through the explanation that the subjects align with current duties, leading to professional licensing, hands-on experience, and improved workflow management. The tone is appropriately formal for a business letter to a boss, and all parts of the prompt are fully addressed. Band score: 7.0.
Coherence and Cohesion — Band 6.5
The letter exhibits a clear logical organisation and progression throughout. Each paragraph serves a distinct purpose, moving smoothly from the statement of purpose and the reason for the request, to the specific working hours, and finally to the benefits for the employer. Paragraphing is used appropriately, and standard letter-writing conventions are followed. Cohesive devices such as 'Therefore', 'This way', and 'Moreover' are utilised effectively to connect ideas, although slightly more variety could enhance the flow further. Referencing is clear and easy to follow. Band score: 7.0.
Lexical Resource — Band 6.0
The student demonstrates a sufficient range of vocabulary for the task with some flexibility and precision. Phrases such as 'secured admission', 'align perfectly', and 'hands-on experience' show good collocation. There are, however, a few spelling and word-choice errors, notably 'assisstant' instead of 'assistant' and 'lisence' instead of 'license' or 'licence', as well as the sign-off 'faitfully' instead of 'faithfully'. Despite these minor inaccuracies, the vocabulary is adequate to convey the message clearly without impeding communication. Band score: 6.5.
Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 6.0
The student uses a mix of simple and complex sentence structures, such as 'I am writing this letter to inform you that...' and 'It would be great if you could allow me to work...'. There is good control over tense and modal verbs. However, there are a few minor grammatical and punctuation issues, such as the unnecessary comma in 'issue is that, my class timings' and occasional slight awkwardness in phrasing ('secured admission in' rather than 'secured admission to'). Overall, the grammar does not impede communication and contains a frequent number of error-free sentences. Band score: 6.5.
See this exact question answered at other band scores — the same prompt compared across bands.
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