Band 6.5 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 6.5 · Cambridge IELTS 19 · 2026-08-31

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 Lucy,

I am living in one of your apartment with 6 month of lease and my contract will finish by next month. Recently, I changed my plans and wanted to extend my lease agreement more.

I wanted to increase my lease by more 6 months which will be till 1st of April, In the same unit. My unit number is 8510, which is on 8th floor.

The main reason for increasing the agreement is that, I am able to commute very easily to my university as it is on walking distance. Also, all the necessity places such as grocery store, transit stops and restaurants are within the apartment zone. Along with this, The facilities provided by the apartment is mind-blowing which make the system run so smoothly.

However, The only issue I faced is that there are some electric switch which is not working since the day I rented the apartment. So, it's my request to you please look on this problem as soon as possible.

Your Faithfully

Isha Goyal

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 7.0

The letter successfully addresses all three bullet points required by the prompt. You clearly state the desired extension period, explain the reasons for your change in plans (convenience of location and facilities), and identify the maintenance issue regarding the electrical switches. The tone is appropriate for a formal request to a landlord. To reach a higher band, ensure that the opening and closing salutations are consistent with formal letter-writing conventions (e.g., 'Dear [Name]' should be followed by 'Yours sincerely' rather than 'Your Faithfully'). Overall, the response is well-focused and fulfills the requirements of the task effectively.

Coherence and Cohesion — Band 7.0

The letter is logically organized into distinct paragraphs, each serving a clear purpose. The progression of ideas is easy to follow. You use some cohesive devices, such as 'Also', 'Along with this', and 'However', to link your points. However, the use of these devices is occasionally mechanical. To improve, try to vary your transitions and ensure that the flow between sentences feels more natural. For instance, the transition between the apartment facilities and the maintenance issue could be smoother. Overall, the paragraphing is sufficient and contributes to a coherent message.

Lexical Resource — Band 6.0

You demonstrate an adequate range of vocabulary for the task, using terms like 'lease agreement', 'commute', and 'maintenance'. However, there are some inaccuracies in word choice and collocation, such as 'necessity places' (should be 'essential amenities') and 'mind-blowing' (which is too informal for this context). Additionally, 'look on this problem' is not the standard idiomatic expression; 'look into this matter' or 'attend to this issue' would be more appropriate. Expanding your range of precise, formal vocabulary would help elevate your score in this criterion.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 6.0

You use a mix of simple and complex sentence structures, which is generally effective. However, there are several grammatical errors that persist throughout the text. Examples include 'one of your apartment' (should be 'apartments'), 'more 6 months' (should be 'an additional 6 months'), and 'there are some electric switch' (should be 'switches'). Furthermore, there are issues with article usage and subject-verb agreement, such as 'The facilities provided by the apartment is' (should be 'are'). While these errors do not impede communication, they occur frequently enough to prevent a higher score.

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

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