Band 5.5 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 5.5 · Cambridge IELTS 19 · 2026-09-28

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 5.5)

Dear Phil,

I am writing this letter to you for shorten my working hours as I want to take part- time study.

I am taking six month course regarding the master grower in agiculture field and I want reduce my wrokload for better learning. I am working full- time at your company and some time I have to ovetime also and i don not have enough time for my study.

As at this time I am working from 8 am to 6 pm and I would Like to reduce three hours. If it possible can I work form 8.00 am to 3.00 pm.

Moreover, I would like to say this is essential not only for me, for you also because I am able to do more unique experiments which increase our productivity and we can invent new varieties.

Thank you for your consideration and I am looking forward to your response.

Yours faithfully,

Navjot

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response: Band 6.0

The candidate successfully covers all bullet points of the prompt, achieving the purpose of a formal request letter. The letter explains why the reduction in hours is needed ("want to take part- time study" and "master grower in agiculture field"), specifies the desired schedule ("work form 8.00 am to 3.00 pm"), and describes the benefits to the employer ("do more unique experiments which increase our productivity"). Although some ideas are slightly brief and there are minor unnatural expressions, the message is communicated clearly and all parts of the task are adequately addressed, earning a solid Band 6.0.

Coherence and Cohesion: Band 6.0

The letter maintains a coherent overall arrangement with a recognizable letter structure, beginning with a proper salutation and closing. Logical links are attempted using cohesive devices such as "As at this time", "Moreover", and "Thank you for your consideration". However, referencing and transitions are sometimes mechanical or awkward, such as starting a sentence with "As at this time". Paragraphing is generally appropriate, separating the introduction, main points, benefits, and sign-off, but the internal cohesion within the second paragraph feels slightly cluttered. This reflects the descriptors for Band 6.0.

Lexical Resource: Band 5.5

The student uses an adequate vocabulary range for the task, attempting some less common subject-specific terms such as "productivity", "experiments", and "agiculture". However, there are noticeable spelling errors ("agiculture" for agriculture, "ovetime" for overtime) and word choice inaccuracies (e.g., "for shorten" instead of "to shorten"). These errors do not impede communication, as the reader can easily grasp the intended meaning, placing the performance securely at Band 5.5.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy: Band 5.0

The writer attempts a mix of simple and complex sentence structures, such as conditional and causal clauses (e.g., "If it possible can I work..."). However, grammatical accuracy is inconsistent. There are several noticeable errors, including missing prepositions, tense confusion, and structural mistakes ("I am writing this letter to you for shorten my working hours", "some time I have to ovetime also and i don not have enough time"). Punctuation and capitalization are also faulty in places. These frequent errors occasionally cause difficulty for the reader, aligning with Band 5.0.

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

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