Band 6.0 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 6.0 · Cambridge IELTS 19 · 2026-10-08

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 Sir,

I am writting this letter in persual of my humble request for reduction of my current working hours so that i can spare some additional time for my part time studies.

Firstly, I would like to inform that i have successfully secured seat in part time management program at stanford university. As per the criteria mentioned in program i have to attend tution for 3 hours everyday which starts at 3 PM and ends at 6 PM every monday to friday. tution timmings probably clashes with my company's working hour.

In compensation of adjustment for my working hour i can start my work by 1 hour early and would also like to request for 2 hours relaxation in work.

I do understand that company also have some criterias and discipline upon which management and company's administration runs. But, I am glad to inform that my management skills learnt from my part time studies will further help this company to grow at great extent. I would be really grateful if my request will be accepted.

Yours Sincerely,

Vinit Shah

AI examiner evaluation

CriterionBand
Task Achievement / Task Response6.5
Coherence and Cohesion6.5
Lexical Resource5.5
Grammatical Range and Accuracy5.5
Overall6.0

Task Achievement / Task Response: Band 6.5

The letter addresses all three required points and maintains a polite, appropriate purpose. You explain that you have secured a place on a part-time management programme and give its class schedule, then propose starting work earlier and reducing your hours. You also connect your studies to the employer’s interests by saying the management skills could help the company grow. These details make the request understandable, though the proposed schedule is not fully precise: “start my work by 1 hour early” does not state a definite start time or clearly explain how the two-hour reduction fits around classes. The benefit to the employer is also asserted rather than illustrated. Clarifying the exact hours and giving a specific example of how you could apply your learning would make the response more fully developed.

Coherence and Cohesion: Band 6.5

The letter has a clear overall sequence: it introduces the request, explains the study commitment, proposes a work adjustment, and closes with a benefit to the company. Paragraphing helps distinguish these stages, and signposts such as “Firstly” and “But” make the progression easy to follow. Some connections are less natural or precise, however. “In compensation of adjustment” does not clearly link the proposed earlier start to the requested reduction, and the final paragraph combines an acknowledgement of company rules with the benefit of your studies without developing either point. Use more direct transitions and make the relationship between the class timetable and your proposed working hours explicit. This would make the cohesion more flexible and less dependent on formulaic linking phrases.

Lexical Resource: Band 5.5

You use some relevant formal and workplace vocabulary, including “reduction,” “criteria,” “management skills,” and “administration,” and the intended meaning is generally recoverable. There is also an attempt to use less common expressions, but several choices are inaccurate or unnatural, such as “in persual of my humble request,” “secured seat,” and “In compensation of adjustment.” Spelling and word-form errors—including “writting,” “tution,” and “timmings”—also reduce the accuracy and polish of the letter. Aim for clear, conventional professional phrasing rather than ornate expressions, and check spelling carefully. More precise collocations would help you express the request and its benefits with greater ease and naturalness.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy: Band 5.5

The response includes a mix of simple and more extended sentence forms, such as the sentence explaining that classes run from 3 PM to 6 PM and the conditional-style request in the closing. The main message remains understandable, but some grammatical errors recur. For example, “I would like to inform that” needs an object or a different construction, while “I have to attend tuition … which starts” has an unclear reference for “which.” Capitalisation and sentence boundaries also need attention: “i” should be “I,” and the schedule details beginning “tution timmings” should start a new sentence with appropriate punctuation. The final phrase “if my request will be accepted” is not the natural conditional form. Review clause structure, articles, and conditional patterns to improve accuracy while retaining your longer sentences.

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