Band 5.5 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 5.5 · Cambridge IELTS 19 · 2026-08-14

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. Javed,

I hope you are doing well. I am writing to express my interest in extending the rental agreement.

Initially I rented your apartment for six months because my current job contract is expiring, but now my employer extended it for six more months. So, I wish to extend my lease agreement for additional six months. Moving apartment is such a big hassel and it would cost me money as well, because I have to hire a moving company. Moreover, I am already familiar living in this area.

I would like to tell you few minor problems with the apartment. Firstly, the front door lock needs replacement, because the key usually sticks inside the lock. Secondly, despite of last repair

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 5.0

The letter addresses all three bullet points: the duration of the extension, the reason for the change, and the maintenance issue. However, the response is significantly under the 150-word minimum, which limits the development of ideas. The explanation for the change is clear, but the letter ends abruptly mid-sentence, failing to complete the final requirement regarding the apartment problem. Because the response is incomplete and fails to meet the length requirement, it cannot reach a higher band.

Coherence and Cohesion — Band 6.0

The letter follows a logical structure with a clear opening and distinct paragraphs for the different requirements. Cohesive devices such as 'Initially', 'Moreover', and 'Firstly' are used to link ideas. However, the abrupt ending disrupts the overall flow and coherence of the text. Paragraphing is present, but the incomplete nature of the final paragraph prevents a fully cohesive conclusion.

Lexical Resource — Band 5.5

The vocabulary is generally adequate for the task, using terms like 'rental agreement', 'contract', and 'familiar'. There are some spelling and collocation errors, such as 'hassel' (hassle) and 'familiar living' (familiar with living). The range is somewhat limited, and the incomplete nature of the text restricts the opportunity to demonstrate a wider or more sophisticated range of vocabulary.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 5.5

The student uses a mix of simple and complex sentences, such as 'Moving apartment is such a big hassel and it would cost me money as well'. There are grammatical errors, including 'despite of' (should be 'despite' or 'in spite of') and 'tell you few minor problems' (missing 'a'). While these errors do not completely impede communication, the unfinished sentence at the end is a significant grammatical and structural failure.

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

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