Band 6.5 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 6.5 · Cambridge IELTS 19 · 2026-10-15

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. John,

I hope you are doing well. I am writing this to request you that I want to minimize my working hours in order to to take out some time for my studies as I have planned to persue a masters degree in Human Resources. It consists of couple of valueable courses including recruitment and selection at SZABIST university. I would like you to please mitigate my time in office so that I can study.

I have my classes on the week days 3pm onwards and my office hours are 9am to 5pm. If you could please assist me with the timings issue I would be incredibly grateful. I want my office timings to be reduced by 2.5 hours so that I can reach to my institute on time. Could you please accommodate me with this as now I want my timings changed from 9am to 2:30pm.

Despite working as a recruiter at your organization I am planning to get a degree in the subject. This will not only be beneficial for my personal growth but will also boost up company's hiring and selection process. I hope you accept my request and assist me in this matter.

I look forward to hearing from you.

Yours faithfully,

Kisa.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response: Band 7.0

The letter addresses all three requested points and maintains a clear, polite request. You explain that you want to pursue a master’s degree in Human Resources, specify your proposed hours as 9 a.m. to 2:30 p.m., and connect your studies to the company’s recruitment and selection process. These details make the purpose easy to understand. The benefit to the employer is relevant, but it is stated quite generally: explain more specifically how the courses could improve your recruitment decisions or hiring practices. The reason for choosing this schedule could also be developed by clarifying how the earlier finish fits your class timetable. Overall, the task is covered clearly, with some ideas needing fuller support and precision.

Coherence and Cohesion: Band 6.5

The letter has a clear overall structure: the opening states the request, the next paragraph gives the proposed schedule, and the final body paragraph explains the potential benefit to the employer. This progression makes the message straightforward to follow, and the closing is appropriate. Some linking is less smooth or slightly repetitive. For example, the request is repeated in “I would like you to please mitigate my time” and “Could you please accommodate me with this,” while “Despite working as a recruiter” does not clearly connect the fact of your current role to your plan to study. A more direct transition, such as “As a recruiter, I believe…,” would clarify the relationship between ideas and make cohesion feel less mechanical.

Lexical Resource: Band 6.0

You use an adequate range of vocabulary for a formal workplace request, including “request,” “accommodate,” “recruitment and selection,” and “personal growth.” These choices communicate the main ideas, and the HR-related terms are relevant to the task. However, several word choices or collocations are inaccurate or unnatural, such as “minimize my working hours,” “mitigate my time,” “boost up company's hiring,” and “reach to my institute.” There are also spelling errors in “persue” and “valueable.” These do not prevent understanding, but they reduce precision and control. Prefer conventional professional phrasing, and check spelling carefully; this will make the letter sound more natural and appropriately formal.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy: Band 6.0

The response includes a mix of simple and more complex sentence forms, such as the sentence beginning “This will not only be beneficial…” and the explanation of your class schedule. Most meaning remains clear, but some grammatical errors occur. In “I am writing this to request you that I want,” the clause structure is faulty; use “I am writing to request a reduction in my hours.” The phrase “in order to to take out” repeats the infinitive marker, and “I have my classes on the week days 3pm onwards” needs clearer sentence construction and punctuation. The sentence “I want my office timings to be reduced by 2.5 hours so that I can reach to my institute on time” also contains an awkward grammatical pattern. More accurate clause construction and careful proofreading would improve control.

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

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