Band 5.5 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer
Overall Band Score: 5.5 · Cambridge IELTS 19 · 2026-08-16
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 sir,
I am writing in regarding the extension of lease agreement for few more months, Due to changes in my workplace.
I am intent to lease your apartment from August 2026 to January 2027 ,Because of modification of my workplace i have to stay in same society for few more time .
The reason behind this is my job, Actually i was planning to switch my company to seek higher level of salary. And i even reciveved the offer from other Organization, Despite that my current employer had signed a bond which states that i need to be working for same brand for a periord of a term .So, unfortunatlly i have need to carry-on working with the same employer for next 6 months , Which had make me stay for few months in this city.
On top of that, I want to let you know about AC which is not functioning properly it gets switch on and off by itself so request to replace or fix it.
Looking forward to hear from you.
Best regards ,
Paresh patil
AI examiner evaluation
| Criterion | Band |
|---|---|
| Task Achievement / Task Response | 6.0 |
| Coherence and Cohesion | 5.5 |
| Lexical Resource | 5.5 |
| Grammatical Range and Accuracy | 5.0 |
| Overall | 5.5 |
Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 6.0
You have addressed all three bullet points required by the task: stating the desired extension period, explaining the change in plans, and reporting the maintenance issue. The tone is generally appropriate for a formal letter to a landlord. However, the development of ideas is somewhat repetitive, particularly regarding the explanation of your job situation. To improve, ensure that your explanation is concise and directly linked to the request for an extension. While the purpose of the letter is clear, the overall structure could be more professional by avoiding overly personal details about your employment contract and focusing more on the rental agreement itself.
Coherence and Cohesion — Band 5.5
The letter is organized into logical paragraphs, which helps the reader follow your points. However, the use of cohesive devices is somewhat mechanical and occasionally inaccurate. For example, the transition 'Despite that my current employer...' is used incorrectly in context. Additionally, the punctuation is inconsistent, with frequent comma splices and capitalization errors (e.g., 'Due to', 'Because of', 'Which had make'). Improving the flow between sentences by using a wider variety of linking words and ensuring correct sentence boundaries would significantly enhance the coherence of your writing.
Lexical Resource — Band 5.5
You have a sufficient range of vocabulary to convey your message, but there are several instances of awkward word choice and collocation errors. Phrases like 'in regarding the extension', 'carry-on working', and 'same society' are not natural English collocations. Furthermore, there are spelling errors such as 'reciveved', 'periord', and 'unfortunatlly'. To reach a higher band, focus on using more precise vocabulary related to housing and professional contexts, and pay closer attention to spelling and standard word combinations.
Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 5.0
Your writing shows a mix of simple and complex sentence structures, but there are frequent grammatical errors that occasionally impede the flow of reading. Common issues include subject-verb agreement ('Which had make me stay'), incorrect verb tenses ('it gets switch on'), and missing articles. The sentence structure is often fragmented, and the misuse of commas creates run-on sentences. To improve, focus on mastering basic sentence construction, ensuring that subjects and verbs agree, and proofreading for common punctuation errors before finalizing your work.
See this exact question answered at other band scores — the same prompt compared across bands.
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