Band 6.5 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 6.5 · Cambridge IELTS 19 · 2026-09-02

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 Tanya

I hope this letter finds you well, as we have already discussed regarding the apartment agreement. I want to mention some reasons behind the modifications that I want to make in agreement.

Initially, before renting your place, I did not have any further plans about staying longer in this area due to some issues with my job. However, those issues are still going on, but my manager is doing really well with me, so I have changed my mind about quitting my job. Now I would prefer to rent your apartment for two more years. Moreover, this place is a center of all amenities which are mandatory in my daily life, for instance quick bus service at five minutes walk from this place and a grocery store beside the condos. Finally, although all the facilities are well-maintained in order to live a stress-free life, there is a small leakage in the kitchen sink in my apartment, which I want you to fix ASAP.

I am promptly waiting for your reply, and looking forward live in this place for 2 more years.

yours sincerely

Amandeep

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 7.0

The letter covers all three bullet points required by the task: the duration of the extension, the reason for the change in plans, and the maintenance issue. The tone is generally appropriate for a formal request to a landlord. However, the development of ideas is slightly uneven. While the explanation for staying is clear, the transition to the maintenance issue is abrupt. The letter effectively communicates the purpose, and the reader is left with no doubt about the writer's intentions. To reach a higher band, the writer could provide more specific details regarding the maintenance issue, such as how long the leak has been occurring or the severity of the problem.

Coherence and Cohesion — Band 6.5

The letter is logically organized, with a clear introduction, body, and conclusion. Paragraphing is used to separate the different topics, which helps the reader follow the flow of information. Cohesive devices such as 'However', 'Moreover', and 'Finally' are used to link ideas, although some transitions feel slightly mechanical. The referencing is generally clear, though the opening sentence is a bit vague regarding the 'discussed' agreement. Overall, the progression of ideas is logical and easy to follow, meeting the requirements for a Band 6.5 or 7.0 level of coherence.

Lexical Resource — Band 6.0

The vocabulary is adequate for the task, allowing the writer to express their needs clearly. There are some attempts at less common vocabulary, such as 'modifications' and 'amenities', which are used correctly. However, there are some awkward collocations and phrasing, such as 'doing really well with me' (instead of 'treating me well') and 'promptly waiting' (which is not a standard collocation). While these errors do not impede communication, they indicate a need for more precise word choice to reach a higher band. The vocabulary is sufficient to convey the message effectively.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 6.0

The letter uses a mix of simple and complex sentence structures. There are several grammatical errors, such as 'as we have already discussed regarding' (missing an object), 'in center of all amenities' (missing an article), and 'looking forward live' (should be 'looking forward to living'). Punctuation is generally functional, but there are minor issues with sentence boundaries and missing articles. Despite these errors, the meaning remains clear throughout the letter. The writer demonstrates a reasonable control of grammar, but more attention to verb patterns and article usage would improve the accuracy.

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

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