Band 6.0 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 6.0 · Cambridge IELTS 19 · 2026-10-25

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)

Dear Sir/Madam,

I am writing this letter to request the deduction in my working hours, as I want to study for my higher education as computer engineer in reputed university. After finishing my secondary education, my family cannot afford the tution fees for further studies. Subsequently, I needed to support my family in this money crisis; now the situation is stable and I am free for tertiary education.

Initially, I will be working night shifts to cover my working hours. If my course will have assignments to complete in the near future, then I request for half working days; however, I will work with full dedication and I will try to complete all my projects within the given time frame.

Furthermore, this course will be helpful in the company's profit too, as I will be able to handle various projects easily which before was difficult for me. This course will be helpful for my career also because it will boost my confidence and communication skill.

Yours Faithfully,

Rini

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response: Band 6.0

You address all three requested points: you explain that you want to pursue higher education, propose working night shifts or half days, and describe how your studies could help you handle projects. The reason for studying is supported with relevant background about your family’s earlier financial difficulties. However, the proposed schedule is not sufficiently precise: “Initially, I will be working night shifts” does not clearly state the hours you want to work, and the alternative of “half working days” depends on future assignments. The benefit to the employer is also asserted rather than explained in detail. Specify exact working hours and give a concrete example of how computer-engineering skills would improve your work or benefit the company.

Coherence and Cohesion: Band 6.0

The letter has a clear overall arrangement: the opening explains your request and circumstances, the next paragraph discusses scheduling, and the final paragraph covers benefits. Linking expressions such as “Subsequently,” “Initially,” and “Furthermore” help signal these stages. Some connections are less clear or feel mechanical, however. For example, “If my course will have assignments to complete in the near future, then I request for half working days” makes the scheduling proposal difficult to follow, and the shift from your employer’s benefit to “my career also” weakens the focus of the final paragraph. Improve progression by stating your preferred schedule first, then explaining any flexibility, and keep the closing paragraph centred on benefits to the employer.

Lexical Resource: Band 5.5

You use a relevant range of vocabulary for the topic, including “higher education,” “tertiary education,” “assignments,” “projects,” and “confidence.” These choices make your purpose understandable, and you attempt more formal expressions such as “within the given time frame.” Some word choices and collocations are inaccurate or unnatural, including “deduction in my working hours,” “money crisis,” and “helpful in the company's profit.” There are also spelling errors in “tution” and “skill” where the plural is needed. Aim for more natural workplace language and check spelling and word forms; this would make the letter sound more precise and professional.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy: Band 5.5

You use both simple and more complex sentence forms, including a conditional sentence beginning “If my course…” and a relative clause in “projects…which before was difficult for me.” The main message remains understandable, but some grammatical errors affect clarity and naturalness. For example, “If my course will have assignments” uses an unsuitable future form after “if”; “I request for half working days” has an incorrect verb pattern; and “which before was difficult” has an unclear agreement and clause structure. The opening sentence also needs a clearer construction around your request and intended course. Practise conditional forms, verb patterns such as “request something,” and agreement in relative clauses while retaining your attempts at complex sentences.

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

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