Band 5.5 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 5.5 · Cambridge IELTS 19 · 2026-10-29

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 or Madam,

I am writing to request to lower my working hours to concenterate better on my study.

Actually, i just enrolled in opiticianary program in george brown college. I have three days classes in a week. So I want to do part time work and study. I want to focus on both.

I have alternative days for classes so I can work Tuesday, Thursday and Saturday For full day such as 24 hours per week. If you need me on Sunday I am also available for work.

As you know these days our business is slow. You have been already discussed in yesterday's meeting to reduce working hours of employees. So this would be profitable for not only for you to schedule me from full-time to part-time but also for my self.

Hoping you will consider my request and looking forward to hearing from you soon.

Yours faithfully,

Navdeep Kaur

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response: Band 4.5

You address the main purpose by requesting reduced hours, explaining that you have enrolled in a college programme, and proposing Tuesday, Thursday and Saturday as working days. You also mention Sunday availability and connect the request to the employer’s recent discussion about reducing staff hours. However, the benefit to the employer is only briefly asserted as being “profitable”; explain more clearly how your proposed schedule would help cover business needs or manage staffing costs. The reason for studying is also quite general, and the requested hours could be stated more precisely. These gaps mean the task is only partially developed, despite including the required points.

Coherence and Cohesion: Band 6.0

The letter has a clear overall arrangement: the opening states the request, the next paragraphs explain your studies and availability, and the final paragraph gives a reason related to the business before closing politely. This makes the main message easy to follow. Linking phrases such as “So” and “As you know” help connect ideas, although some connections feel abrupt or mechanical. For example, the move from your class schedule to “I want to focus on both” could be made more explicit, and the employer benefit would fit more naturally if developed alongside the proposed schedule. Paragraphing is appropriate; clearer transitions and more precise referencing would strengthen the progression.

Lexical Resource: Band 5.0

You use enough task-related vocabulary to communicate the basic request, including “working hours,” “part time,” “classes,” and “available.” There are also attempts at more specific language, such as “alternative days” and “profitable,” but some choices are inaccurate or unnatural and make the letter less clear. “Concenterate” is misspelled, “opiticianary program” is not an appropriate programme name, and “schedule me from full-time to part-time” is awkwardly expressed. The range is limited, with repeated use of “work” and “study,” so more precise workplace and education vocabulary would improve clarity and flexibility.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy: Band 5.5

You use mostly simple sentences, with some attempts to connect ideas through clauses, as in “As you know these days our business is slow.” The main request and availability can generally be understood, but some grammatical errors remain. For example, “I am writing to request to lower” has an awkward verb pattern, “I have three days classes” is missing a grammatical link, and “You have been already discussed” uses an incorrect verb form. Capitalisation and punctuation also need attention, including lowercase “i” and the missing comma after “Saturday.” Varying sentence structures while checking verb forms, articles and punctuation would make the letter more accurate.

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

Browse more IELTS Writing model answers or get your own writing scored by the same AI examiner.