Band 5.5 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 5.5 · 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 5.5)

Dear Manager,

I am writing this letter regarding reducing my working hours.

Firstly, from the next Monday I am starting a 6-month course at Cape Breton University. and it will be a 4-day class, which I will have to attend regularly and carefully to pass with a good score. For that reason I would like to shift from full-time employee to part-time employee, as I can work only 24 hours per week.

Secondly, from next month my class will start, and it will be taken from Monday to Thursday.

So I will be available on weekends only for Friday, Saturday, and Sunday.

Finally, I am pursuing a data analytics course, which will increase my knowledge about Excel and data information about the company, which can be beneficial for our company too.

Thank you for your time and consideration. I look forward to hearing from you

Your Faithfully,

Steven Parmar

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response: Band 5.5

You address the three requested points: you explain that a six-month data analytics course requires attendance, request a 24-hour week, and mention possible benefits through improved Excel and company-data knowledge. However, the schedule is not fully clear: you say classes run Monday to Thursday, then write that you are available “on weekends only for Friday, Saturday, and Sunday,” which is contradictory. The benefit to your employer is also asserted rather than explained—for example, specify how you could use your new skills in your role. The letter is 149 words, one word below the required minimum. Develop the employer benefit and clarify the proposed working arrangement to make the request more complete.

Coherence and Cohesion: Band 5.5

The message has a recognisable sequence, moving from the reason for the request to your availability and then the potential benefit to the company. “Firstly,” “Secondly,” and “Finally” help signal these stages, and the closing is appropriate. However, the numbered transitions make the letter feel like a list rather than a naturally connected request. The schedule also disrupts progression: “Monday to Thursday” is followed by “available on weekends only for Friday, Saturday, and Sunday,” leaving the reader unsure which days you can work. Use separate, purposeful paragraphs and connect the request directly to the proposed schedule. Clearer referencing and less mechanical sequencing would make the letter easier to follow.

Lexical Resource: Band 5.5

You use relevant vocabulary for the situation, including “reduce my working hours,” “full-time employee,” “part-time employee,” and “data analytics course.” These choices make your main purpose understandable. However, some expressions are imprecise or unnatural, such as “a 4-day class,” “data information about the company,” and “pass with a good score.” The phrase “shift from full-time employee to part-time employee” is also less natural than describing a change to part-time hours. Aim for more precise workplace and study-related collocations, and avoid repeating general terms such as “company” and “course” when a more specific phrase is available. This would make the letter sound more professional and fluent.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy: Band 5.5

You attempt both simple and more developed sentence forms, including the reason clause in “as I can work only 24 hours per week” and the relative clause “which will increase my knowledge.” The main message remains understandable, but errors recur in sentence boundaries, articles, and phrasing. For example, “Cape Breton University. and it will be” incorrectly separates a sentence before “and,” while “from the next Monday” and “it will be a 4-day class” show problems with article and time expressions. The sentence beginning “So I will be available” is also awkwardly constructed. Practise joining related clauses with accurate punctuation and checking articles and prepositions. More consistently controlled sentences would improve clarity.

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