Band 5.0 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 5.0 · Cambridge IELTS 19 · 2026-08-26

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 5.0)

Dear

I hope u are well . I am writing the letter for taking about renting of an apartment actually I want a longer stay in your flat there u feel relaxed and very peaceful I am pay rent of past 5 months and now I also pay rent for a year I mean 12 months

I want to stay here for a year I hope more then for it this place is very suitable and convenient for my work I can do my work easily in this flat without any noise and issue

I would like to stay here for more time I promise I returned your flat in best position like now I will take care of your flat keep it clean here is just little bit issues in the nell of bathroom if u repair them and give me your flat I am hopeful of u understand my situation

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 5.5

The letter addresses all three bullet points: the desired duration of the extension, the reason for the change, and a maintenance issue. However, the development of these points is quite basic. The explanation for why plans have changed is vague, focusing more on the convenience of the flat rather than a specific life event or reason for the shift in plans. The tone is somewhat informal and lacks the professional structure expected in a formal request to a landlord. While the task requirements are met, the lack of depth and the informal register prevent a higher score.

Coherence and Cohesion — Band 5.0

The letter lacks clear paragraphing, which makes the text appear as a single block of information. There is a lack of cohesive devices to link ideas; sentences are often joined by simple conjunctions or run-on structures. For example, the transition between the request for an extension and the mention of the bathroom issue is abrupt. The logical progression is present but mechanical, and the absence of formal salutations and sign-offs further impacts the overall structure and flow of the correspondence.

Lexical Resource — Band 5.0

The vocabulary is limited and repetitive. Phrases like 'do my work' and 'take care of your flat' are basic. There are also errors in word choice and spelling, such as 'nell' (likely meaning 'smell') and 'returned' (should be 'return'). The range of vocabulary is insufficient to express the request with the necessary precision or formality. While the meaning is generally clear, the lack of variety and the presence of spelling errors limit the score.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 5.0

The response relies heavily on simple sentence structures. There are frequent grammatical errors, including missing articles ('in the nell of bathroom'), incorrect verb tenses ('I am pay rent'), and punctuation issues (lack of capital letters and run-on sentences). The use of 'u' instead of 'you' is inappropriate for a formal letter. While the message is understandable, the high frequency of errors and the lack of complex sentence structures significantly hinder the quality of the writing.

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

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