Band 5.0 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 5.0 · 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 5.0)

Dear Boss,

I am writing to request a reduction in my working hours. Because I want to do study part-time.

I recently enrolled at University Canada West, where I want to pursue my study of bachelor of Business Communication. So, I can not work full time. As my classes are starting from next week. From next i only can do three day work like 20 to 25 hours in a week. I believe that you will allow me to this and also reduce my responsibilities.

I am very confident that my studies will help this company. This study will help me to improve my communication skill, management and problem solving in better way. I belive that after this study i will handle my clients in effective way.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response: Band 5.0

The candidate has attempted all bullet points required by the task, such as explaining the reason for reducing hours, specifying the desired schedule, and describing the benefits to the employer. However, the response falls short of the 150-word minimum, containing only 127 words. This under-length impacts the full development of ideas, particularly regarding the third bullet point, which remains quite brief and lacks detailed elaboration. Despite this limitation, the purpose of the letter is clear and all prompt requirements are touched upon. To achieve a higher band, the student must expand their ideas more thoroughly and meet the minimum word count requirement.

Coherence and Cohesion: Band 5.5

The letter uses a basic paragraph structure, separating the introduction/request from the employer benefits. However, the logical progression is hindered by frequent structural breaks and disjointed sentences, such as starting a sentence with 'Because I want to do study part-time.' Cohesive devices are minimal and sometimes inaccurate ('So, I can not work full time'). Paragraphing is partially managed, but the overall organization feels disconnected due to the choppy sentence structure. For a higher score, the student should use a wider variety of transitional phrases and ensure ideas flow smoothly from one sentence to the next without abrupt interruptions.

Lexical Resource: Band 5.0

The vocabulary used is basic and repetitive, with frequent word-choice errors and awkward collocations (e.g., 'do study', 'do three day work', 'improve my communication skill'). While the message is understandable, the range is limited and minimally adequate for the task. Less common lexical items are attempted but used incorrectly. Spelling is generally acceptable, but grammatical constraints on word forms (such as mixing verbs and nouns) restrict effective communication. To improve, the student should learn standard business collocations and precise terminology related to requesting work adjustments.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy: Band 5.0

The text shows a very limited range of grammatical structures, relying mostly on simple sentences with frequent structural errors. There are notable fragment sentences ('Because I want to do study part-time.') and tense/modal verb issues ('From next i only can do...'). Punctuation and capitalization are also inconsistent ('i' instead of 'I'). While some simple sentences are accurate, complex structures are either absent or faulty, and errors frequently distract the reader. To improve, the student needs to focus on sentence completeness, correct subject-verb agreement, and the proper use of modal verbs and subordinate clauses.

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

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