Band 6.5 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 6.5 · Cambridge IELTS 19 · 2026-08-03

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)

Dr Mr. Karan,

I hope you are doing well. I am writing to ask if i could extend my stay in the apartment that i have been renting for the past five months.

Originally, we agreed on a six month rental period, but i would now like to stay for another twelve months if possible. I have really enjoyed living here, and the apartment has been comfortable and conveniently located.

The reason my plans have changed is that my employer has offered me a one-year contract extension. As a result, i no longer need to move to another city, so i would prefer to continue renting your apartment rather than look for a new place.

I would also like to inform you about a small problem in the apartment. The kitchen sink has started leaking, and the water is collecting under the cabinet. I’m worried that it may cause further damage if it is not repaired soon. I would appreciate it if you could arrange someone to fix it at your earliest convenience.

Thank you for considering my request. I look forward to hearing from you and hope we can extend the rental agreement.

Yours sincerely,

Wajiha Inam

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 7.0

The letter fully addresses all three bullet points required by the prompt. You clearly state the desired extension period (twelve months), provide a logical reason for the change in plans (a contract extension from your employer), and describe the maintenance issue (the leaking kitchen sink) with sufficient detail. The tone is appropriate for a formal request to a landlord, and the purpose of the letter is clear from the beginning. All parts of the task are well-developed, and the response maintains a consistent focus throughout.

Coherence and Cohesion — Band 7.0

The letter is logically organized, with each paragraph focusing on a specific aspect of the request. The progression of ideas is smooth, moving from the purpose of the letter to the justification and finally the maintenance request. You use appropriate cohesive devices such as 'Originally', 'As a result', and 'I would also like to inform you', which help guide the reader through the text. Paragraphing is used effectively to separate the different points, making the letter easy to follow.

Lexical Resource — Band 6.0

You demonstrate a good range of vocabulary appropriate for a formal letter. Phrases like 'conveniently located', 'contract extension', and 'at your earliest convenience' are used accurately and naturally. While the vocabulary is functional and clear, it is generally standard. To reach a higher band, you could incorporate slightly more sophisticated collocations or precise terminology regarding the apartment maintenance, though the current range is more than sufficient for this task.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 6.0

The letter displays a good control of grammatical structures. You use a mix of simple and complex sentences effectively, such as 'I’m worried that it may cause further damage if it is not repaired soon.' However, there are consistent minor errors regarding capitalization, specifically the failure to capitalize the personal pronoun 'I' throughout the text. While these are minor and do not impede communication, they prevent the response from reaching the highest band for accuracy.

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

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