Band 6.5 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 6.5 · Cambridge IELTS 19 · 2026-09-29

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 Sir or Madam,

I hope you are doing well.

I am writing to request a reduction in my working hours because I would like to study part time.

I endrolled in business management course part time because I want to pursue my master degree to gain professional knowledge and experiences.I have to attend my classes in the evening, so It would be grateful if you give some time in the evening to attend the classes.

My working hours are 9 a.m. to 5 p.m regularly. However I would like to work 9 a.m to 2 p.m everyday if you do not have any issue. In addition, I am interested in working on weekends for about six or seven hours.

I believe my study would benefit to the company in several ways. I can aply my knowledge in the current project and contributes to company's success. This course would help improve my communication and teamwork skills which can be beneficial for myself and company as well.

Thank you for your time and understanding. I look forward to hearing from you soon.

Yours faithfully,

Khushbu Patel

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response: Band 6.5

The response effectively covers all bullet points outlined in the task instructions. The student clearly explains the reason for requesting reduced hours (to pursue a master degree in business management), specifies the desired working hours (9 a.m. to 2 p.m. everyday plus weekend work), and describes how the studies would benefit the employer (applying knowledge to current projects, contributing to success, and improving communication and teamwork skills). The purpose of the letter is clearly stated and fully developed throughout the body paragraphs. The tone is appropriate for a formal workplace request, and all required content elements are fully addressed, warranting a solid Band 7.0 for this criterion.

Coherence and Cohesion: Band 6.5

The letter is logically organised with a clear beginning, middle, and end, following standard letter-writing conventions. Paragraphing is used appropriately to separate distinct ideas, such as reasons for reduction, proposed hours, and benefits to the company. Cohesive devices are used reasonably well, such as 'However', 'In addition', and 'Therefore' (implied context), although some transitions feel a bit basic. The progression of ideas is easy to follow throughout the response. Referencing is generally clear, connecting the personal study goals directly to the workplace benefits. Overall, the structural flow supports clear communication, aligning well with the Band 7.0 descriptors.

Lexical Resource: Band 6.0

The student demonstrates an adequate range of vocabulary suitable for a workplace request, including terms like 'professional knowledge', 'communication', and 'teamwork skills'. However, there are notable spelling and word-choice errors, such as 'endrolled' instead of 'enrolled', 'master degree' instead of 'master's degree', and 'aply' instead of 'apply'. Less common vocabulary is attempted with mixed success, and occasional slips in collocation occur, such as 'benefit to the company' instead of 'benefit the company'. These lexical inaccuracies do not impede overall communication, but they place the writing firmly in the Band 6.0 category.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy: Band 6.0

The response features a mix of simple and complex sentence forms, demonstrating some variety in grammatical structures (e.g., conditional-like phrasing with 'if you do not have any issue'). There are several grammatical and mechanical errors present, such as punctuation omissions and tense inconsistencies, including 'so It would be grateful if you give some time' (which should be 'I would be grateful if you could give me some time') and 'contributes' instead of 'contribute'. While these errors occasionally distract the reader, they rarely impede meaning. The command of grammar shows reasonable control alongside frequent minor slips, which corresponds closely to a Band 6.0 score.

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