Band 6.5 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 6.5 · Cambridge IELTS 19 · 2026-10-13

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 Mr. Ali,

I am writing this email to to request reducing my working hours to 3 hours per day, so I can pursue my advanced studies.

Firstly, I need this hours because I got accepted as a part-time students at the university of technology, and I want to start my studying journey as a post graduate student, so I need a flexible schedule.

Secondly, the university courses will be recorded, allowing me to review them at anytime. I am free to work at morining from 8:00 am to 11:00 am or at night from 6:00 pm to 9:00 pm, but I cannot working for a whole shift due to my studying commitments.

If you could help me with this, I would be very grateful because giving me the chance to study while I working with you will help me a lot to enhance my technical skills, so I can solve more information technology problems in the company. I would appreciate it if my request could accepted as soon as possible.

Please don note hesitate to contact me if you need any further information.

Yours sincerely,

Ahmed

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response: Band 7.0

You address all three requirements: you explain that you have been accepted for postgraduate study, request shorter hours, and describe how stronger technical skills could help you solve company IT problems. The request is clear, and the proposed shifts—8:00–11:00 a.m. or 6:00–9:00 p.m.—make your preferred schedule specific. The benefit to the employer is relevant, though it would be stronger with a concrete example of how your studies relate to your current duties. The explanation that recorded lectures allow review is useful context, but its connection to the requested schedule could be made clearer. Overall, the letter fulfils the task and supports its main ideas; developing the employer benefit more specifically would make the response more complete.

Coherence and Cohesion: Band 6.5

The letter has a clear overall arrangement: an opening request, paragraphs explaining your studies and availability, a paragraph on the employer’s benefit, and a suitable closing. Sequencing words such as “Firstly” and “Secondly” help readers follow the points, and the two possible work periods are easy to identify. However, these transitions make the progression somewhat mechanical, and the second paragraph combines course arrangements with your proposed hours without a smooth link between them. The final paragraph also packs the benefit, request for approval, and closing contact invitation into a long sequence. Use clearer paragraph focus and more natural links—for example, explain directly how the recorded classes make either shift workable—to strengthen the flow.

Lexical Resource: Band 6.0

Your vocabulary is adequate for a workplace request, and phrases such as “flexible schedule,” “studying commitments,” and “technical skills” communicate the main ideas. You also use relevant terms such as “post graduate student” and “information technology.” However, several word choices or forms are inaccurate or unnatural, including “this hours,” “at anytime,” and “solve more information technology problems.” “Working hours” and “part-time studies” are repeated, so a little more precise variation would improve flexibility. Check spelling as well: “morining” is an error. Aim for natural collocations, such as saying that your studies will help you “resolve technical issues” or “apply new knowledge to the company’s IT needs.”

Grammatical Range and Accuracy: Band 5.5

You attempt a mix of simple and complex sentences, including a reason clause with “so I can pursue” and a conditional request beginning “If you could help me.” The overall meaning remains understandable, but some errors in verb forms, agreement, articles, and sentence construction reduce accuracy. Examples include “I got accepted as a part-time students,” “I cannot working,” and “while I working”; these should use consistent, correct forms such as “I have been accepted as a part-time student,” “I cannot work,” and “while I am working.” The request “could accepted” also needs “could be accepted.” There is a duplicated “to” in the opening and a missing apostrophe in “don’t.” Proofread these patterns and vary sentence structures while keeping them controlled.

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

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