Band 6.5 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 6.5 · Cambridge IELTS 19 · 2026-08-23

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 building manager,

I would like to request you to extend my apartment lease duration. I am living in unit number 213 on the second floor. Although, I had originally singed the lease for 6 months, I want to extend the lease for 2 more months. Therefore, my effective lease ending date will be 31st August.

I have moved here to complete my contract with the government's project. However, the project got delayed for 2 months. As a result, I have to stay in this city for 2 more months. Because of this, I am requesting to extend my lease duration.

As I am requesting to extend tenure lease duration, I would expecting from you to solve the major problem regarding a washing machine. Machine has frequently stopped between between the washing cycle.

When I restart the washing machine, washing cycle starts from the beginning. As a result, it consumes more electricity. If you could fix this problem, I can save money.

I am waiting for your positive response.

Yours faithfully,

Yash

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 7.0

The letter successfully addresses all three bullet points: the duration of the extension, the reason for the change, and the issue with the washing machine. The tone is appropriate for a formal request. However, the development of the ideas is somewhat basic. For instance, the explanation regarding the government project is clear but brief. To reach a higher band, you could provide more specific details about the project or the impact of the delay. Overall, the purpose of the letter is clear, and the reader is fully informed of your requirements and the maintenance issue.

Coherence and Cohesion — Band 6.5

The letter is logically organized into clear paragraphs, each serving a specific purpose. You use basic cohesive devices such as 'Although', 'Therefore', and 'As a result' to connect your ideas. While the progression is clear, the use of cohesive devices is sometimes repetitive (e.g., starting multiple sentences with 'As a result'). To improve, try to vary your linking words and ensure that the transition between the lease extension request and the maintenance issue is smoother. The paragraphing is appropriate for a formal letter.

Lexical Resource — Band 6.0

You demonstrate an adequate range of vocabulary for the task, such as 'request', 'extend', 'tenure', and 'maintenance'. However, there are some inaccuracies in word choice and collocation, such as 'singed' (spelling error for 'signed') and 'tenure lease duration' (which is redundant). Additionally, 'I would expecting' is a grammatical error that affects the lexical flow. To improve, focus on using more precise collocations and ensure that your word forms are correct. The vocabulary is sufficient to convey your message clearly, but it lacks the sophistication required for a higher band.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 6.0

You use a mix of simple and complex sentence structures, but there are several recurring grammatical errors. For example, 'Although, I had originally singed' contains an unnecessary comma and a spelling error. You also have issues with verb forms, such as 'I would expecting' instead of 'I would expect'. There are also minor errors with articles, such as 'Machine has frequently stopped' (should be 'The machine'). While these errors do not impede communication, they are frequent enough to prevent a higher score. Focusing on subject-verb agreement and correct tense usage will significantly improve your accuracy.

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

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