Band 6.5 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer

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

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 Landlord,

I hope this letter finds well.

I am writing to inquire about the possibility to extend my stay at the apartment longer than my 6 Month agreement.

l request this extension because of my work contract has been extended for another 6 months. I would love to rent my existing apartment for further 6 months of contract.

Also, I’d like to point out that since past few weeks there is an issue with the heat pump of the house. There has been many occasions when the bathing water was felt colder than usual. Last week, when the outside temperature dropped to -1 C. I could not increase the heat to compose for the cold outside.

Mr. Xyz, I request you to kindly check this issue with the house before the winter gets started. Also, please share your opinion on the lease extension I requested.

Thank you for your time and let me know if you need any additional documentation to form another lease.

Regards,

YYC

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 7.0

The letter successfully addresses all three bullet points: the duration of the requested extension, the reason for the change in plans, and the maintenance issue. The tone is appropriate for a formal request to a landlord. The purpose of the letter is clear from the outset, and the information provided is relevant and sufficient to meet the task requirements. The ideas are developed logically, and the request is presented in a professional manner, ensuring the reader understands the writer's needs and the urgency of the repair request.

Coherence and Cohesion — Band 7.0

The letter is logically organized into distinct paragraphs, each serving a specific purpose. The progression of ideas is clear, moving from the request for extension to the explanation, then to the maintenance issue, and finally to the closing. Cohesive devices such as 'Also', 'Last week', and 'Therefore' (implied) are used to link ideas, although some transitions could be smoother. The paragraphing is appropriate for a formal letter, and the overall structure helps the reader follow the writer's intent without confusion.

Lexical Resource — Band 6.0

The vocabulary is generally adequate for the task, allowing the writer to communicate their needs clearly. There are some minor inaccuracies in word choice, such as 'compose for the cold' (should be 'compensate') and 'bathing water was felt colder' (should be 'felt colder'). While the range is sufficient to convey the message, it lacks the sophistication or precision that would elevate it to a higher band. The use of 'heat pump' and 'lease extension' shows a good grasp of relevant terminology for this specific context.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 6.0

The letter contains a mix of simple and complex sentence structures. However, there are several grammatical errors that occur throughout the text, such as 'I hope this letter finds well' (missing 'you'), 'since past few weeks' (should be 'the past'), and 'before the winter gets started' (slightly unnatural phrasing). There are also minor punctuation and article errors, such as 'the bathing water was felt colder'. While these errors do not impede communication, they are frequent enough to prevent a higher score in this criterion.

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

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