Band 6.5 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 6.5 · Cambridge IELTS 19 · 2026-09-03

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 Sir,

I am writing to discuss with you about possibility of extension on renting agreement we have. I moved to this place five months ago as my workplace is situated near the apartment.

I would like to stay at this apartment because I loved this place now as it feels like home. I am so obsessed with the calm surroundings.

Initially, I signed six months lease contract as I was appointed as a supervisor in my company for six months. I had plans to move from this city within the mentioned time frame.

I would like to share some issues which needs to be fixed in the apartment. Firstly, the cooling system is not working properly. Especially during daytime it is really hot inside the apartment. Secondly, I would request if you will replace the furniture as it is broken from some places.

I would appreciate if you extend the renting agreement to one year. Since, my work contract has been changed and I have to work with the firm for next one year.

I look forward to hearing from you.

Kind regards,

Harpreet Kaur

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 your desire to extend the lease, explain the change in your work circumstances, and identify specific maintenance issues. The tone is appropriate for a formal request to a landlord. To reach a higher band, ensure that the connection between your work situation and the lease extension is more explicitly linked in the final paragraph, as the current structure separates these points slightly. Overall, the purpose of the letter is clear and the response is well-developed.

Coherence and Cohesion — Band 6.5

The letter is logically organized with a clear introduction, body paragraphs for each requirement, and a polite closing. You use basic cohesive devices such as 'Firstly' and 'Secondly' to structure your points. However, the progression between paragraphs could be smoother. For example, the transition between discussing the apartment issues and the request for an extension feels a bit abrupt. Using more varied linking phrases or transition sentences would improve the flow and help the reader follow your argument more naturally.

Lexical Resource — Band 6.0

You demonstrate an adequate range of vocabulary for this task, such as 'situated', 'mentioned time frame', and 'appreciate'. However, there are some minor inaccuracies in word choice and collocation. For instance, 'discuss with you about possibility' is slightly unnatural; 'discuss the possibility' would be more precise. Additionally, 'obsessed with' is a bit informal for a business letter. Expanding your range to include more precise collocations related to property and formal requests would enhance your score.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 6.0

You use a mix of simple and complex sentence structures, which is generally effective. There are some grammatical slips, such as 'some issues which needs to be fixed' (should be 'need') and 'I loved this place now' (should be 'I love'). The use of 'if you will replace' is also slightly awkward; 'if you could replace' would be more appropriate for a formal request. While these errors are present, they do not impede communication, and the meaning remains clear throughout the letter.

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

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