Band 5.5 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 5.5 · Cambridge IELTS 19 · 2026-10-17

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 5.5)

Dear Brad,

I am writing to request a reduction in my working hours so that I can pursue part time Az course for the better future and that course will for three weeks.

I have recently decided to join that classes so i requested them to give me afternoon timings soni can still work for you in the morning . so i can work from 8 am to 2 pm monday to friday and on weekend i can work full time .

This part time study of this course will definetly help me for better oppertunity in the future and my employer company will get great benefit from that if i complete my course and pass the Az course exam after that i can drive all the big moving trucks all over canada so i can get more jobs from the employer and also i can buy my trucks for the better future.

Your sincerely

lakshay

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response: Band 6.0

You address all three requested points: you explain that you want to study an AZ course, propose working from 8 a.m. to 2 p.m. on weekdays and full time at weekends, and describe a possible benefit to the company. The request is understandable and relevant. However, the reason for choosing this course is only briefly stated as being for a “better future,” and the employer benefit is not fully clear: gaining the ability to drive larger trucks could help with work, but the claim that you might buy your own trucks makes your future plans sound less directly beneficial to your employer. Explain more specifically how the qualification could support the company’s operations.

Coherence and Cohesion: Band 6.0

The letter follows a generally sensible order: request and reason, proposed schedule, then benefits to the employer. This makes the main purpose easy to identify. However, the second and third paragraphs contain several ideas joined in long, loosely connected sentences, such as the request for afternoon classes followed by your proposed work hours. The repeated use of “so” also makes the links feel mechanical, and “that course” and “that” are not always precise references. Separate the schedule and its explanation into clearer sentences, and use explicit links such as “As a result” or “This qualification would enable me to” to show how each point connects.

Lexical Resource: Band 5.0

You use enough task-related vocabulary to communicate the main message, including “reduction in my working hours,” “part time,” “afternoon timings,” and “full time.” However, the range is limited and several choices or spelling errors reduce precision, including “better future,” “great benefit,” “oppertunity,” and “definetly.” Some expressions are also vague or unnatural, such as “join that classes” and “all the big moving trucks.” Choose more precise terms for the course, qualification, and the employer’s likely benefit, and check spelling carefully. More natural collocations would make the letter sound clearer and more professional.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy: Band 5.0

You attempt both simple and more extended sentence forms, and the reader can generally understand your request and proposed schedule. Some grammatical errors remain, particularly in sentence construction and punctuation. For example, “I have recently decided to join that classes so i requested them” combines ideas without a clear grammatical link, while “my employer company will get great benefit from that if i complete my course” has an unclear clause structure. Capitalise “I,” use full stops to divide long sentences, and check articles and plural forms, such as “those classes.” These improvements would make your meaning easier to follow while preserving the useful range of sentence patterns you attempt.

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

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