Band 5.0 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 5.0 · 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 5.0)

Dear Sir,

I am writing to request to reduce my working hours in order to study part time. My tutor informed me that your performance is very weak which will impact on your result. Due to this reason, I like to work part time. Moreover, mid term exams are coimg up. For that I need some time for preparartion. I can work part time on weekends for 8 hours in a day because my college is on monday, tuesday and wednesday. And on other two weekdays I can do my preparation at home.

However, I noticed that many worker likely to work on weekdays rather than weekend. So, some employee should be there on weekends which will benefit your company. As I earlier mentioned, I am available on weekends which will be grateful for company and my studies. I appreciate your understanding and support during this difficult time.

I eagerly await your decision.

Yours faithfully,

Raman

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response: Band 5.0

You address the main purpose and include a proposed schedule, saying you can work “on weekends for 8 hours in a day,” as well as a possible benefit to the company: weekend staffing. However, the reason for reducing your hours is unclear because “your performance is very weak” appears to refer to your boss’s performance, not your own studies or results. The benefit to your employer is also only briefly explained, and the requested hours are not fully precise. The response is 148 words, so it is two words below the 150-word minimum; the eight words copied from the prompt are not counted. Clarify your study-related reasons and develop the employer benefit to address the task more fully.

Coherence and Cohesion: Band 5.5

The letter has a recognisable sequence: you make the request, explain your availability, give a possible benefit, and close politely. Paragraphing helps separate the request and schedule from the employer benefit. Some links, however, are mechanical or unclear. “Due to this reason” does not clearly connect to the preceding sentence, and “However” introduces a contrast that is not fully explained. The schedule is also difficult to follow because the college days and preparation days are listed in one long sequence. Use clearer transitions and organise the information into distinct steps: study reasons, exact proposed hours, then benefits to the company. This would make the progression easier to follow.

Lexical Resource: Band 5.0

You use enough basic vocabulary to communicate the general request, including “reduce my working hours,” “preparation,” and “benefit your company.” However, the range is limited, and several word choices or collocations make the meaning unclear or unnatural. For example, “your performance is very weak” does not express the likely intended concern about your own academic performance, while “some employee should be there” is imprecise. There are also noticeable spelling errors, including “coimg” and “preparartion,” which reduce accuracy. Aim for more precise workplace and study-related language, and proofread spelling and word forms. More natural phrasing would make the letter clearer and more professional.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy: Band 5.0

The response mainly uses simple sentence patterns, with a few attempts to connect ideas using clauses such as “because my college is on…” and “which will benefit your company.” These attempts show some range, but control is uneven. In “I am writing to request to reduce,” the verb pattern is incorrect; “I would like to request a reduction” would be more accurate. “I like to work part time” does not express the intended request clearly, and “many worker likely to work” is missing grammatical elements. There are also issues with articles, plurals, and sentence boundaries, particularly in the long schedule sentence. Practise accurate request forms and build longer sentences only when their structure is controlled.

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

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