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 John,

I am writing to request for reducing my working hours in order to study part time for a course. I recently enrolled in a university for studying part-time.

The main reason for this request is balancing work and study. Initially, I was under the impression of finishing my course work like, projects, assisgnments and exams while working full-time. However, after my first month of the course, I cannot focus on completing assigned course work due to insufficient time.

It would be really helpful if I could work from 9:am to 3:pm. This allows me to finish my assigned projects and tasks at work more efficiently and also to concentrate on my studies at the university. This is a win-win solution for balancing my work life and study.

Moreover, the course which I am currently studying will help the company to conclude its projects in small amount of time without affecting its efficiency. This could also gives me an apportunity to educate the other teams members which could improve the team efficiency.

Thank for considering my request. I am also open to discuss any other possibilty which could help me.

Your's faithfully

Anand

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response: Band 6.5

You address all three requested points: you explain that full-time work leaves insufficient time for coursework, propose working from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m., and describe possible benefits to the company and team. The request is clear and the letter is appropriately directed to your boss. The explanation of how your studies would benefit the employer is relevant, but it is less fully developed than the reason for reducing your hours: for example, explain what skills or knowledge the course provides and how these would help specific projects. The claim that projects could be completed in less time is also quite general. More concrete support would make the benefits more convincing and complete.

Coherence and Cohesion: Band 7.0

The letter has a clear progression from the request and its reason to the proposed schedule, employer benefits, and closing. Paragraphing helps distinguish these stages, and linking expressions such as “Initially,” “However,” and “Moreover” guide the reader through the ideas. The overall organisation is effective, though some connections could be more precise. For instance, the sentence about 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. says this schedule would help you complete work tasks and study, but it does not clearly explain how those hours fit around your course. The repeated references to balancing work and study also make the progression slightly less focused. Clarifying the schedule’s practical arrangement would strengthen the flow.

Lexical Resource: Band 5.5

You use vocabulary relevant to the situation, including “enrolled,” “insufficient time,” “assigned projects,” and “team efficiency,” so the main message is understandable. There are also attempts at more formal workplace language, such as “request” and “considering my request.” However, several word choices and collocations are inaccurate or awkward, including “request for reducing,” “conclude its projects,” and “educate the other teams members.” Spelling errors such as “assisgnments,” “apportunity,” and “possibilty” are noticeable, and “win-win solution” is less suitable for a formal request. More accurate collocations and careful proofreading would make your vocabulary more natural and precise.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy: Band 5.5

You use both simple and more developed sentence forms, including the contrast in “Initially, I was under the impression… However, after my first month…” and the relative clause “which could improve the team efficiency.” The meaning is generally clear, but some grammatical errors remain. Examples include “I am writing to request for reducing” (the verb pattern should be “request a reduction” or “request that…”), “This could also gives me” (use “could give”), and “Thank for considering” (use “Thank you for considering”). There are also issues with articles, plurals, and punctuation in “a university,” “other teams members,” and “9:am to 3:pm.” Review verb patterns and agreement, and use standard time formatting.

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

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