Band 6.5 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 6.5 · Cambridge IELTS 19 · 2026-08-22

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 Derin,

I hope you are doing well. I am writing this letter regarding the lease extension I require due to my other commitments.

I rented this apartment for the duration of my studies, however now I want to live here for 6 months more.

Actually, I have recently applied for a corporate job and I have received a letter for interview which is going to be scheduled in next two months. In addition, this apartment is comfortable, clean and more welcoming for family and friends. On the top of this, my work will be on the walking distance if I would be selected for this role. Therefore, I want to increase the duration of my contract.

I would like to make a request for a small problem that I am facing from last winters. The heating system of the apartment is unreliable and frequently breaks down so if you could send a technician to inspect this problem thoroughly it would be appreciated.

I look forward to receiving your response.

Best regards,

Rajpreet

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 7.0

You have successfully addressed all three bullet points required by the task. You clearly stated the desired extension period, explained the change in your plans regarding your job search, and raised the issue regarding the faulty heating system. The tone is appropriate for a formal letter to a landlord. The ideas are relevant and sufficiently developed to meet the requirements of the task. To reach a higher band, ensure that the connection between your job interview and the need for a six-month extension is made more explicit, as the current explanation is slightly abrupt.

Coherence and Cohesion — Band 7.0

The letter is logically organized with a clear introduction, body paragraphs, and a closing. Each paragraph focuses on a specific aspect of the prompt, which helps the reader follow your argument easily. You use some cohesive devices such as 'In addition,' 'On the top of this,' and 'Therefore' to link your ideas. However, some of these transitions feel slightly mechanical or repetitive. To improve, try to vary your linking phrases and ensure that the flow between sentences is smoother, particularly in the third paragraph where you list several reasons for staying.

Lexical Resource — Band 6.5

You demonstrate an adequate range of vocabulary for the task, using terms like 'lease extension,' 'corporate job,' and 'thoroughly.' The language is generally natural and appropriate for the context. There are a few minor issues with collocation, such as 'on the walking distance' (should be 'within walking distance') and 'from last winters' (should be 'since last winter'). While these errors do not impede communication, they prevent the vocabulary from being considered 'flexible' or 'precise' at a higher level. Expanding your range of collocations would enhance your score.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 6.0

You use a mix of simple and complex sentence structures, which is good. However, there are several grammatical inaccuracies that occur throughout the text. For example, 'I have received a letter for interview which is going to be scheduled in next two months' contains minor article and preposition errors. Additionally, 'if I would be selected' is an incorrect use of the conditional structure (should be 'if I am selected'). While these errors do not cause confusion, they are frequent enough to keep the score in the 6.0 range. Focusing on subject-verb agreement and conditional forms will help improve your accuracy.

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

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