Band 6.0 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 6.0 · Cambridge IELTS 19 · 2026-10-30

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 Boss,

I am writing this to make a request to reduce my working hours in order to study part time. I am currently working in digital marketing department and I have completed my bachelor of business administration three years ago. However, in order to get much knowledge I need higher education, so I want to pursue masters degree in marketing. Considering all my responsibilities at work, I have selected online learning course, that is why I would like to reduce my working hours to attend the daily lactures.

There are classes at 5 PM to 8 PM, so I would like to work from 10 AM to 4:30 PM. I will make sure that all my work will be accurate and I will be on time everyday.

Furthermore, if I will get much knowledge then it must be beneficial to the employers. I will be able to hadle not only the digital marketing but also campaign marketing.

I hope you accept the request for my better career opportunity.

Yours sincerely,

alex.

AI examiner evaluation

CriterionBand
Task Achievement / Task Response6.0
Coherence and Cohesion6.5
Lexical Resource5.5
Grammatical Range and Accuracy5.5
Overall6.0

Task Achievement / Task Response: Band 6.0

The letter addresses all three requested points: you explain that you want to pursue a master’s degree, specify a 10 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. schedule, and describe a possible benefit to the employer. The reason for studying is relevant, and the proposed hours are clear. However, the employer benefit is less fully developed: “I will be able to handle not only the digital marketing but also campaign marketing” does not explain how the new knowledge would improve your work or benefit the company. The request could also be made more persuasive by briefly explaining how you would manage your responsibilities during the shorter day. Develop these points with specific outcomes, such as applying new marketing strategies to campaigns.

Coherence and Cohesion: Band 6.5

The information follows a sensible order: you introduce the request and its reason, give your preferred hours, then explain the potential benefit and close politely. Paragraphing helps distinguish these stages, and phrases such as “However” and “Furthermore” make the relationships between ideas clear. This gives the letter a coherent overall progression. To make the organisation more polished, avoid relying on a small number of linking expressions and ensure each transition reflects the exact relationship between ideas. For example, “Furthermore” introduces the employer benefit appropriately, but the connection between your studies and improved work could be made more explicit. A clearer closing paragraph could also restate the request and invite your boss to discuss arrangements.

Lexical Resource: Band 5.5

You use vocabulary relevant to the situation, including “digital marketing,” “higher education,” “online learning course,” and “campaign marketing,” so the reader can understand your purpose. There are also attempts to express professional ideas, such as describing how your studies could benefit the employer. However, some word choices and collocations are awkward or imprecise, including “get much knowledge,” “daily lactures,” and “better career opportunity.” Spelling errors such as “lactures” and “hadle” also reduce accuracy. Aim for natural workplace phrasing and check spelling carefully; for instance, explain that you want to “deepen your marketing knowledge” and “apply new skills to company campaigns.”

Grammatical Range and Accuracy: Band 5.5

You use both simple sentences and more complex structures, including “Considering all my responsibilities at work, I have selected…” and a conditional sentence beginning “if I will get…”. The main message remains understandable, and the schedule is expressed clearly. Some grammatical errors remain, particularly in verb forms and sentence construction. “If I will get much knowledge” should use a present form after “if,” while “I will be able to hadle” requires the base form “handle.” The phrase “I have completed my bachelor…” also needs an article or a more natural degree construction. Review conditional patterns, infinitives after modal verbs, and article use, then proofread each sentence for these forms.

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