Band 6.0 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 6.0 · Cambridge IELTS 19 · 2026-09-27

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 madam

How are you doing. I'm writing this letter to inform you that i gained admission into college to acquire a second degree and I want to make a request on reduction of my working hours so I can be able to combine my studies and work without affecting my productivity.

I will be glad if my working hours can be adjusted to only night shift so I can handle my studies during day time while I focus on work at night.

I believe that at the end of my studies I will gain more knowledge and skills that will attribute to the growth of the company. I will be delighted if my request is granted.

yours faithful,

ozioma Esther.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response: Band 5.5

The response covers all three bullet points required in the prompt: it explains the reason for reducing working hours (gaining admission into college), specifies the preferred hours (night shift), and describes the employer benefit (gaining knowledge and skills that will contribute to company growth). However, the length requirement has not been met, as the response contains only 121 words compared to the minimum of 150 words. This under-length impacts task fulfillment because the ideas are somewhat brief and lack full extension. Consequently, while the bullet points are addressed, the overall development is limited, leading to a band score of 5.5.

Coherence and Cohesion: Band 6.0

The letter maintains a clear overall purpose with a logical sequence of ideas, moving naturally from the introduction and explanation of the situation to the requested shift changes and the expected benefits for the employer. Paragraphing is used appropriately to separate distinct points, such as the second paragraph focusing on the specific hours requested. Cohesive devices are functional, though basic. For instance, phrases like 'so I can' and 'at the end of my studies' link clauses effectively. While paragraphing and referencing are straightforward and clear, the brevity of the text prevents a more flexible use of cohesive devices, placing it solidly in the band 6 range.

Lexical Resource: Band 6.0

The vocabulary used is adequate for the task, allowing the writer to communicate their message clearly. Words and phrases like 'productivity', 'adjusted', and 'acquire a second degree' demonstrate a sufficient range of vocabulary for general workplace correspondence. However, there are some lexical and formatting slips, such as starting the salutation with lowercase letters ('Dear madam') and a typo in the sign-off ('yours faithful' instead of 'yours faithfully'). The range is somewhat limited and lacks more sophisticated or less common lexical items, reflecting a standard band 6 performance.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy: Band 6.0

The writer demonstrates a mix of simple and complex sentence forms, such as 'I'm writing this letter to inform you that i gained admission...' and 'I believe that at the end of my studies I will gain more knowledge...'. There are minor punctuation and capitalization issues, such as the lowercase 'i' used for the personal pronoun and the lack of a question mark after 'How are you doing.' Despite these minor mechanical errors, the grammar does not impede communication, and the complex structures attempted are generally accurate. This balance of mixed structures and occasional control errors aligns with band 6.

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

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