Band 6.5 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 6.5 · Cambridge IELTS 19 · 2026-08-04

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 Mr. Smith,

My name is Sushant Khanna, tenant of your apartment unit 321 Gabriel Tower Surrey. I am writing this letter to request you to extend my stay at your place.

Previously when I asked from you to the rent your apartment, I was not sure whether my company will keep me in Surrey or not. Being an expertise, the company usually transfer me to the various location to train the new trainee.

As you are aware of present situation we are not allowed to move outside due to Corona Virus, I got an email from my manager to do work from home and need not to visit any location physically for at least another six months.

I would also like to bring your attention towards few problems which are required to figure out on the urgent basis. The service is pending for the water filter, ventilator duct needs to be clean and shower of the main washroom is leaking.

I would like to request you to approve my extension for another six months and send service person to solve the problems mentioned above.

Yours sincerely,

Sushant

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 7.0

The letter successfully addresses all three bullet points required by the task. You clearly state the desired extension period, explain the change in plans due to the pandemic and work-from-home requirements, and list the necessary repairs in the apartment. The tone is appropriate for a formal letter to a landlord. To reach a higher band, ensure that the explanation of the change in plans is slightly more concise and focused, as the transition between your job role and the pandemic situation is a bit wordy. Overall, the purpose of the letter is clear and the requirements are fully met.

Coherence and Cohesion — Band 7.0

The letter is logically organized with a clear introduction, body paragraphs for the explanation and the request for repairs, and a formal closing. Paragraphing is used appropriately to separate distinct ideas. You use some cohesive devices, such as 'Previously' and 'As you are aware', which help the flow. However, some transitions are slightly mechanical, and the connection between the introduction and the body could be smoother. The use of referencing is generally clear, and the overall progression of the letter is easy to follow for the reader.

Lexical Resource — Band 6.0

You demonstrate an adequate range of vocabulary for the task. Phrases like 'bring your attention towards' and 'on the urgent basis' are functional, though 'on an urgent basis' would be more natural. There are some minor inaccuracies, such as 'Being an expertise' (should be 'expert') and 'need not to visit' (should be 'do not need to visit'). While you successfully convey your message, the vocabulary is somewhat standard. Incorporating more precise collocations related to property maintenance or professional requests would help elevate your score.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 6.0

You use a mix of simple and complex sentence structures. There are several grammatical errors, such as 'when I asked from you to the rent' (should be 'when I asked to rent'), 'transfer me to the various location' (should be 'transfers me to various locations'), and 'ventilator duct needs to be clean' (should be 'cleaned'). While these errors are noticeable, they do not impede communication. To improve, focus on subject-verb agreement and the correct use of articles and plural forms. The majority of your sentences are understandable, but more consistent accuracy is needed for a higher band.

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

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