Band 5.5 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 5.5 · Cambridge IELTS 19 · 2026-10-22

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 Boss,

I am writing this letter to inform you that I am a part-time student at Mount Saint Vincent University and I do not have much time to work.

I am pursuing medical stream and i have focuse more on my studies as compared to work because if i reduce my working hours then i will enough time to study. moreover, i am planning to work only 30 hours in a week mostly in evenings.

therefore, my part-time studies should be beneficial in future to my employer due to my higher education, when I will finished my degree then i could apply for high position where I get more opportunities as compared to now.

Thank you for your understanding and consideration.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response: Band 5.5

You address the three requested points: you explain that study is taking priority, propose working 30 hours a week mostly in the evenings, and mention that your qualification could help you move into a higher position. However, the reasons and employer benefit are only briefly stated; for example, explain what skills or knowledge your medical studies will bring to your current work. The request itself could also be made more clearly and politely, rather than simply saying you are informing your boss. The response is 122 words, below the required 150, so it needs more detail to meet the task requirement. Develop each point and include a clear request for your boss’s agreement.

Coherence and Cohesion: Band 6.0

The letter has a recognisable sequence: it introduces your situation, gives your proposed schedule, and then describes a possible future benefit to the employer. The closing is also appropriate. However, the ideas are compressed into a few paragraphs, and the links between them are sometimes mechanical. For instance, “moreover” introduces the proposed hours, while “therefore” begins the benefit paragraph without making the cause-and-effect relationship fully clear. Use separate, purposeful paragraphs for your reason, preferred schedule, and employer benefit, and connect them with more precise transitions. A clearer progression from the request to its practical details would make the letter easier to follow.

Lexical Resource: Band 5.5

You use relevant vocabulary for the topic, including “part-time student,” “working hours,” “higher education,” and “degree,” so the main message is understandable. However, the range is limited and some expressions are imprecise or unnatural, such as “medical stream,” “more time to work,” and “apply for high position.” These choices make parts of the letter less clear or less professional in tone. Aim for more precise workplace and study-related phrasing, such as naming your medical programme and describing the skills it will develop. Check spelling and word forms as well: “focuse” is not correctly formed, and “beneficial” would be more natural when followed by a clear description of the benefit.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy: Band 5.0

You attempt both simple and more complex sentences, including a conditional structure in “if i reduce my working hours then i will enough time to study.” However, several sentence patterns are faulty, and these errors sometimes make the intended meaning difficult to follow. For example, “I will enough time” is missing a verb, and “when I will finished my degree” uses an incorrect verb form after “when.” Capitalisation and punctuation are also inconsistent, particularly at the beginnings of sentences and with “I.” Practise forming conditionals and time clauses accurately, and proofread each sentence for a complete verb phrase. More accurate control of these structures would make your request clearer.

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

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