Band 6.5 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 6.5 · Cambridge IELTS 19 · 2026-07-24

IELTS Writing Task 1 question

Five months ago, you started renting an apartment on a six-month agreement. You now wish to stay in the apartment for longer than the six months you originally agreed with the owner.

Write a letter to the owner of your apartment. In your letter

• say how long you now want to rent the apartment for
• explain why your plans have changed
• tell the owner about a problem in the apartment

You do NOT need to write any addresses.

Begin your letter as follows:

Dear ....................................,

Student answer (Band 6.5)

Dear Landlord,

I am writing to request an extension of my stay as my standard lease includes six months only. I have some family problems going on and in this case it would be difficult for me to invest time to find a new place.

I would prefer to live in this apartment for extra six months on top of my current agreement that will allow me to resolve my ongoing family related issues by giving me plenty of time.

Most probably, in the month of October my family will be visiting me to have a in-person discussion about the problem going on between my brother and his wife, therefore I will need to change my plans to move in a small room. Moreover, I have very hectic schedule which is also another reason forcing me to change my living place because moving to another place is really a time consuming and exhaustic activity.

The only problem with the apartment I would like to highlight is the loose transition piece between bedroom and living which is creating a tripping hazard. I have already sent you several emails regarding it.

It would be greatly appreciated if these necesssary change

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 6.5

You have addressed all three bullet points required by the prompt: the duration of the extension, the reason for the change in plans, and the maintenance issue. The tone is generally appropriate for a formal letter to a landlord. However, the development of your ideas is somewhat inconsistent. While you explain the family situation, the explanation regarding the 'small room' is confusing and does not clearly link to your request to stay in the current apartment. Additionally, the letter ends abruptly with an incomplete sentence, which leaves the task unfinished. To improve, ensure all points are fully developed and that the letter reaches a natural, complete conclusion.

Coherence and Cohesion — Band 6.5

The letter is organised into logical paragraphs, which helps the reader follow your points. You use some cohesive devices such as 'moreover' and 'therefore' to connect ideas. However, the flow is occasionally hindered by awkward phrasing, such as the transition between your family issues and the mention of moving to a 'small room'. The referencing is sometimes unclear, and the lack of a closing sentence or sign-off makes the overall structure feel incomplete. Using a wider variety of linking words and ensuring each paragraph has a clear topic sentence would improve the logical progression of your writing.

Lexical Resource — Band 6.5

You demonstrate an adequate range of vocabulary for the task, using terms like 'extension', 'agreement', and 'tripping hazard'. There are some instances of slightly unnatural word choices, such as 'exhaustic activity' (which should be 'exhausting') and 'invest time' in this context. You also have a spelling error ('necesssary'). While your vocabulary is sufficient to convey your meaning, you should aim to use more precise collocations and ensure accurate spelling to reach a higher band. Focusing on word forms and common collocations related to housing and formal requests will be beneficial.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 6.5

You use a mix of simple and complex sentence structures, such as 'It would be greatly appreciated if...' and 'I am writing to request...'. However, there are several grammatical errors, including 'my standard lease includes six months only' (which is slightly awkward) and the incomplete final sentence. There are also minor punctuation issues. While these errors do not generally impede communication, they occur frequently enough to prevent a higher score. To improve, focus on subject-verb agreement and ensure that your complex sentences are constructed accurately and fully completed.

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