Band 6.0 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 6.0 · Cambridge IELTS 19 · 2026-10-18

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)

Good day/Madam,

I hope all is well with you. The purpose of this letter is to request a reduction in my working hours. This will help me find more time for my part-time studies.

I would like that my working hours be decreased because I really want to dedicate more time to studies. I recently enrolled for an evening part- time school. And Immediately after work I head to the school without having enough time to rest before going to the school. while the lectures are going on I don't fully concentrate because I'm too exhausted. Immediately after the lectures, I head home and sleep off without revising what I have been taught in school. Reducing my working hours will permit me to rest before my clases start and will also allow me to study after school.

I would appreciate it if my work hours is reduced from 10 hours daily to 6 hours a day. I also would not want to be working on weekends too.

Dedicating more time to my studies will help me acquire adequate mental skills like solving arithmetics and quantitative reasoning. This skill will benefit our account department and help generate my profit for the company.

I hope you consider my request and reduce my work hours as this will be beneficial to both of us. I anticipate your response soon. Thank you.

Yours faithfully,

Oge Frances.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response: Band 7.0

The letter addresses all three required points and maintains a clear, appropriate request. You explain the reason with specific details about arriving at evening classes tired, struggling to concentrate, and having little time to revise. You also state a proposed schedule—six hours rather than ten each day, with weekends off—and connect your studies to skills that could support the accounts department. These details make the purpose clear and the ideas are extended with relevant explanation. To strengthen the response further, make the proposed hours more precise, such as giving exact start and finish times, and explain more specifically how quantitative skills would improve your work or benefit the company. The opening “Good day/Madam” is also less suitable than a direct, professional salutation to your boss.

Coherence and Cohesion: Band 6.5

The information is arranged in a generally logical sequence: you introduce the request, explain your study-related difficulties, propose a reduced schedule, and describe a possible benefit to the employer. Paragraphing helps distinguish these stages, and phrases such as “I would appreciate it if” and “I hope you consider my request” guide the reader through the purpose and conclusion. However, the explanation paragraph is lengthy and repeats the sequence of going to school and returning home, while “Immediately” is used twice close together. The transition into the employer benefit is also abrupt. Grouping the study difficulties more concisely and linking the new skills directly to your accounting duties would make progression smoother and cohesion less repetitive.

Lexical Resource: Band 5.5

You use enough vocabulary to explain the request and its context, including “dedicate more time,” “concentrate,” “revising,” and “quantitative reasoning.” The meaning is generally understandable, but several word choices and collocations are inaccurate or awkward, which limits precision. For example, “enrolled for” would more naturally be “enrolled in,” “sleep off” does not fit the intended meaning of going to sleep, and “generate my profit for the company” is unclear. There are also spelling and form issues in “clases” and “arithmetics.” Aim for precise workplace language and check common collocations; for instance, explain how your studies will help you “contribute to the accounts department” rather than generate profit personally.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy: Band 5.5

The response includes both simple sentences and longer structures, such as “Reducing my working hours will permit me to rest before my clases start and will also allow me to study after school.” This shows an attempt to connect ideas using subordinate clauses and coordinated verbs. However, errors in agreement and sentence construction remain noticeable: “I would like that my working hours be decreased” is awkwardly formed, and “my work hours is reduced” has a subject–verb agreement error. The sentence beginning “And Immediately after work…” is a fragment, and “while the lectures are going on” begins with an incorrectly capitalised word after a full stop. Review clause construction, agreement, and sentence boundaries, while retaining the variety of sentence forms you attempt.

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

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