Band 5.5 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 5.5 · Cambridge IELTS 19 · 2026-10-26

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 sir,

I want to request to I would reduce my working hours beacuse I have enrolled in part-times courses.

Regarding my working hours, I want reduce hours to pursue my sudies. I would studies part-time courses in Business and Accountant. This courses to enhance my skills more. I enrads to study further.

I would like to work on morning shift 9am to 1pm instead of full hours. I would be greatful if you allow to work on flexible hours. I am avaliable all weekdays from monday to friday. During weekends I would do work full-time. If you would help me I am not give any complaint to you.

This subject will benfit for company's account and we can develop our busniess. It will improve my efficiency and productivity. I can apply new knowledge and i would work in the international companies, it will mutually beneficial for the both.

I looking forward to hearing from you soon.

Yours faithfully,

Madhuri

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response: Band 6.0

You address all three requested points: you explain that you have enrolled in part-time courses, propose working from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m., and describe possible benefits such as improved efficiency and applying new knowledge. The request is clear enough for the reader to understand. However, some points are less fully explained than others. In particular, the benefit to the employer is asserted rather than developed: explain how studying business and accounting would help with specific duties or contribute to the company. The proposed schedule also needs clarification, since you request weekday morning hours but then say you are available for full-time work at weekends. A more precise, consistently framed request would make the letter more complete.

Coherence and Cohesion: Band 5.5

The letter has a recognisable structure, with separate paragraphs for your reason, proposed schedule, and employer benefits, followed by an appropriate closing. This helps the reader locate the main information. However, progression within paragraphs is sometimes unclear or repetitive. For example, the first two paragraphs both repeat that you want reduced hours to study, while “This courses to enhance my skills more” does not connect smoothly to the surrounding ideas. The schedule paragraph also moves from weekday hours to weekend work and then to an unclear promise about complaints. Use clearer links between each point and remove repeated information. More logical sequencing and clearer references would make the organisation easier to follow.

Lexical Resource: Band 5.0

You use some relevant vocabulary for the situation, including “enrolled,” “flexible hours,” “efficiency,” and “productivity,” so the reader can identify your purpose and intended benefits. However, the range is limited and several spelling, word-form, and collocation errors make parts of the letter difficult to interpret, such as “part-times courses,” “I enrads,” “avaliable,” and “mutually beneficial for the both.” Some phrases are also unnatural, including “full hours” and “work in the international companies.” Choose standard workplace and study expressions, and check spelling and word forms carefully. More precise vocabulary would help you explain your request and the employer’s benefits with greater clarity.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy: Band 5.0

You attempt both simple statements and longer sentences, and the main request can generally be understood. However, sentence structures and verb forms are often inaccurate, which sometimes makes the meaning unclear. For example, “I want to request to I would reduce” combines incompatible verb patterns, while “I would studies” and “I looking forward” use incorrect verb forms. There are also errors in articles, agreement, and sentence construction, as in “This courses” and “I am not give any complaint to you.” Practise forming requests with patterns such as “I would like to request a reduction in my hours” and check that each sentence has a correctly formed subject and verb. Greater control of these basic structures would improve accuracy.

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

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