Band 5.5 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer
Overall Band Score: 5.5 · Cambridge IELTS 19 · 2026-08-05
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 5.5)
Dear Mr.John,
I am writing to you regarding increase the lease agreement with the apartment in which i am living in prent time.
As i have a rent agreement of sixth month with the same apartment which is going to coplete on the next month. But I would like to expand this agreement for one year.
Next mont I am starting my new cousre which will run for next six month. So i have changed my plan to increase my lease agreement with this aprtment. Also i appreciate the facities which are given in this aprtment like security and peace.
Except one problem which the leakege in the kitchn sink every thing is perfect in this aprtment. it may be from the main junction of pipe of water supply to the main buliding. If you will look after this issue i would be very thankful to you.
yours sincerly,
Deepika
AI examiner evaluation
| Criterion | Band |
|---|---|
| Task Achievement / Task Response | 6.0 |
| Coherence and Cohesion | 6.0 |
| Lexical Resource | 5.0 |
| Grammatical Range and Accuracy | 5.5 |
| Overall | 5.5 |
Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 6.0
The letter addresses 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 appropriate for a formal letter to a landlord. However, the development of ideas is somewhat limited; for instance, the explanation regarding the course could be more detailed to fully justify the request. While the purpose of the letter is clear, the overall response is quite brief, which limits the depth of the communication. To improve, ensure that each point is expanded with more supporting detail to demonstrate a more comprehensive grasp of the task requirements.
Coherence and Cohesion — Band 6.0
The letter is organized into logical paragraphs, which helps the reader follow the progression of ideas. There is a clear opening and closing. However, the use of cohesive devices is somewhat mechanical and repetitive (e.g., 'Also', 'So'). Some transitions between sentences are abrupt, such as the jump from the course description to the mention of apartment facilities. The referencing is generally clear, but the flow could be improved by using a wider variety of linking words to connect ideas more fluidly. Paragraphing is present, but the internal structure of the paragraphs could be more cohesive to better link the supporting details to the main points.
Lexical Resource — Band 5.0
The vocabulary is adequate for the task, allowing the writer to communicate the necessary information. However, there are frequent spelling errors (e.g., 'prent', 'coplete', 'cousre', 'aprtment', 'kitchn', 'buliding') which are distracting and occasionally impede readability. The range of vocabulary is limited and relies on basic terms. While the writer attempts to use some topic-specific language like 'lease agreement' and 'facilities', the overall control of lexical items is inconsistent. To reach a higher band, the writer needs to demonstrate more accurate spelling and a broader range of vocabulary that is used with greater precision and fewer errors.
Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 5.5
The letter contains a mix of simple and complex sentence structures, but there are frequent grammatical errors throughout. Examples include 'regarding increase the lease' (should be 'regarding extending the lease'), 'sixth month' (should be 'six-month'), and 'If you will look after this issue' (should be 'If you could look after this issue'). Punctuation is also inconsistent, particularly with the use of commas and capitalization. While the meaning is generally understandable, the frequency of errors in basic grammar and sentence construction is noticeable. Increasing the accuracy of verb tenses and preposition usage would significantly improve the quality of the writing.
See this exact question answered at other band scores — the same prompt compared across bands.
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