Band 6.5 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 6.5 · 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 6.5)

Dear Manager,

I am writing to request for reduction in my working hours as I have enrolled in a postgraduate computer science programme. I am keen to countinue my studies while maintaining my work and I believe a little adjustment to my schedule would allow me to balance my studies and work.

If possible, I would like to work approximately 20 to 25 hours a week, preferably a morning shift from 5:30 am to 1:30 pm on Friday, Saturday, and sunday. This schedule would enable me to continue my classes in the evening.

I am confident that my studies will benefit your company in several ways. There are several courses in which they will provide some practical work. For example, communication skills, teamwork, use of AI programmes to solve the problems. These skills will help me to interact with customers more confidently at work, and work with team to slove the problems promptly.

I would be greatful if you would consider my request. I look forward to hearing from you.

Yours faithfully,

yoyo

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response: Band 7.0

You address all three requested points and maintain a clear, polite request throughout. The reason is specific: you have enrolled in a postgraduate computer science programme, and you explain that a schedule adjustment would help you balance study and work. You also give proposed hours and days, then connect your studies to workplace benefits such as stronger communication, teamwork, and problem-solving. These ideas are relevant and supported with examples, although the benefit section is somewhat general: explaining how particular course content would translate into improved customer service or work outcomes would make the support more convincing. Overall, the letter fulfils its purpose and develops the main points clearly, with some scope to make the employer benefits more precise.

Coherence and Cohesion: Band 7.0

The letter is organised in a clear sequence: you state your request and reason, specify a proposed schedule, explain the benefits to the employer, and close politely. Paragraphing supports this progression, and linking expressions such as “If possible,” “For example,” and “I look forward to hearing from you” help guide the reader. The connections between ideas are generally easy to follow. However, “There are several courses in which they will provide some practical work” is unclear, particularly because “they” does not have a clear reference. The list that follows also feels slightly abrupt. Clarifying the relationship between the courses and the skills would make cohesion more flexible and precise.

Lexical Resource: Band 6.0

Your vocabulary is adequate for a formal workplace request, and phrases such as “postgraduate computer science programme,” “adjustment to my schedule,” and “interact with customers more confidently” communicate the main ideas effectively. You also attempt more specific language when describing the benefits of your studies. Some word-choice and spelling errors reduce accuracy, including “request for reduction,” “countinue,” “slove,” and “greatful.” A few expressions are also imprecise or unnatural, such as “provide some practical work” and “use of AI programmes to solve the problems.” Choose more natural collocations and proofread spelling carefully. This would make the letter sound more polished while preserving its clear meaning.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy: Band 6.0

You use a mix of simple and complex sentence forms, including the conditional request “If possible, I would like to work…” and the clause “as I have enrolled…”. Most sentences communicate your meaning clearly, and the letter’s polite tone is maintained. Some grammatical issues remain. In “I am writing to request for reduction,” the verb pattern is incorrect; use “request a reduction” or “ask for a reduction.” In “work with team,” a determiner is needed, and “on Friday, Saturday, and sunday” would be clearer with consistent capitalisation and a more precise schedule structure. The sentence about courses and practical work is also difficult to parse. Review verb patterns, articles, and sentence clarity to improve control.

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

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