Band 6.5 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 6.5 · Cambridge IELTS 19 · 2026-10-07

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 Ram,

I am writing to let you know that i want to adjust my shift timings to pursue advanced level of machine learning course online, which i got an admission from Algonquin college, Canada.

Let me explain my situation in more detail. Firstly, I've applied to enroll in Machine learning in Algonquin college. My application got approved for a six months online course a week ago, the course duration is six months. So, i want to reduce my working time to focus on my part-time studies.

In addition to that, I have to join digital classes on every Monday and Tuesday, Lab sessions takes place on Wednesday. During this time period I am able to work on Thursday to Sunday and i am available to support everyday after 4PM.

After completion of this course, I am able to transfer the data dirctly from server to the client systems. This helps us to save time and reduce the dependency over third party companies. I hope you understand the importance of my course and how it is useful for the company growth.

Thank you for your time and consideration. I look forward to your prompt response.

Yours faithfully,

Bala

AI examiner evaluation

CriterionBand
Task Achievement / Task Response7.0
Coherence and Cohesion6.5
Lexical Resource6.0
Grammatical Range and Accuracy6.0
Overall6.5

Task Achievement / Task Response: Band 7.0

You address all three requested points: you explain that you want to study an online machine-learning course, identify when you can work, and describe a potential benefit to the company. The proposed availability—Thursday to Sunday, plus after 4 p.m.—gives your boss useful scheduling information. You also support your request with details about the course and its practical application. The benefit is relevant, but the claim about transferring data directly from the server to client systems could be explained more clearly, including how your new skills would enable this. The request would also be stronger if you stated the exact reduced hours or weekly schedule you are seeking, rather than mainly describing your availability.

Coherence and Cohesion: Band 6.5

The letter has a clear overall arrangement: the opening states your purpose, the middle paragraphs explain the course and your availability, and the final paragraph describes a workplace benefit before closing politely. Sequencing phrases such as “Firstly” and “In addition to that” help guide the reader, and the ideas are generally easy to follow. However, some linking is mechanical, and the repeated explanation of the course’s six-month duration interrupts the flow. The transition from your class schedule to your availability could be more direct, while the final paragraph would benefit from a clearer connection between the course content and the specific benefit to the company. More varied, precise links and tighter paragraph development would improve progression.

Lexical Resource: Band 6.0

Your vocabulary is adequate for the purpose and includes relevant terms such as “part-time studies,” “Lab sessions,” “third party companies,” and “dependency.” These help communicate the course arrangements and anticipated workplace value. You also attempt more specific language related to technology, although some choices are imprecise or unnatural: “adjust my shift timings” could be “adjust my working hours,” and “transfer the data dirctly from server to the client systems” needs more natural phrasing and accurate spelling. “Advanced level of machine learning course” is also awkwardly formed. These issues do not prevent understanding, but they limit precision and naturalness. Aim for accurate collocations and check spelling, especially in technical phrases, while keeping the tone appropriate for a workplace letter.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy: Band 6.0

You use a mix of simple and more complex forms, including the purpose clause “to pursue…course” and the conditional time reference “After completion of this course.” Most sentences communicate the intended meaning, but some grammatical errors remain. For example, “i want” needs a capital pronoun, “which i got an admission from” has an unclear relative-clause structure, and “Lab sessions takes place” has a subject–verb agreement error. Articles and prepositions also need attention in phrases such as “in Algonquin college” and “on every Monday and Tuesday.” The sentence “My application got approved for a six months online course” would be clearer with a more accurate verb form and singular “six-month.” Review agreement, articles, and sentence construction to make your varied structures more consistently accurate.

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