Band 6.5 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 6.5 · 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 6.5)

Dear Sarah,

I hope you are doing well.It is my pleasure to rent your apartment. As initially we both agreed for six-months ;however, I would like to extend it for more six-months.

I rented your apartment because I got a job in a multi-national company.At beginning I had only six months contract with the company, but fortunately they are willing to extend my contract with them. For this reason I would like to change my lease agreement.

I thought I will find other option for my self, but now this apartment is my comfort zone and it feels like a home. Moreover, it is only 10 minutes away from my work.So it is easy for me to travel.

There is a one small problem in the apartment as washroom is constantly leaking if possible can you please fix it ,as it creates inconvenience for me as it makes washroom always wet.

I hope you will approve my request and thank you for your time and patience.

Yours Sincerely,

Sam

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 7.0

You have successfully addressed all three bullet points in the prompt. You clearly stated the desired extension period, provided a logical reason for the change in plans (job contract extension), and identified the maintenance issue regarding the leaking washroom. The tone is appropriate for a formal letter to a landlord. The ideas are relevant and well-developed, ensuring the reader understands your request and the urgency of the repair. To reach a higher band, ensure that the transition between the request for extension and the maintenance issue is slightly more fluid, as the shift feels a bit abrupt.

Coherence and Cohesion — Band 6.5

The letter is logically organized into distinct paragraphs, each serving a clear purpose. You use some cohesive devices such as 'Moreover' and 'For this reason' to link ideas. However, the use of cohesive devices is sometimes a bit mechanical, and there are minor issues with punctuation and spacing (e.g., missing spaces after periods in 'well.It' and 'company.At'). Improving the variety of linking words and ensuring consistent paragraph spacing would enhance the flow. Overall, the progression of ideas is clear and easy to follow throughout the letter.

Lexical Resource — Band 6.0

You demonstrate an adequate range of vocabulary for the task, such as 'multi-national company', 'lease agreement', and 'inconvenience'. The language is generally natural and conveys your meaning effectively. There are some minor errors in word choice, such as 'find other option for my self' (should be 'find another option for myself') and 'more six-months' (should be 'an additional six months'). While the vocabulary is sufficient, incorporating more precise collocations would elevate the response. The current range is functional but lacks the sophistication required for higher bands.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 6.0

You use a mix of simple and complex sentence structures. While your meaning is always clear, there are several grammatical inaccuracies, such as 'As initially we both agreed for six-months' (should be 'As we initially agreed on a six-month lease') and 'There is a one small problem' (should be 'There is one small problem'). Punctuation errors, specifically missing spaces after periods and incorrect comma usage, are frequent. These errors do not impede communication, but they do indicate a need for more careful proofreading to ensure grammatical control.

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

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