Band 5.0 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 5.0 · Cambridge IELTS 19 · 2026-09-06

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 sir,

I hope you are doing well. I am writing a letter to ask about the increasing agreement of your apartment in which i am living.Now in want to rent the apartment for three next month as i want to live in it for long time .

I would like to tell you that now i am not move with my friend beacuse all facilities are available near your apartment which is very convenient for me .

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 4.0

The response fails to meet the minimum word count requirement of 150 words, as it is only 78 words long. Consequently, the ideas are significantly underdeveloped. While you have attempted to address the three bullet points—stating the duration, explaining the change in plans, and mentioning a problem—the lack of detail prevents a full response. For example, you mention a 'problem' in the apartment but fail to describe what it is, which is a key requirement of the task. To improve, you must expand on each point with specific details and ensure the letter reaches the required length to fully develop your ideas.

Coherence and Cohesion — Band 5.0

The letter lacks a clear structure and logical progression. There is no formal closing or appropriate sign-off, and the paragraphing is insufficient. Cohesive devices are largely absent, making the text feel like a collection of disjointed sentences rather than a cohesive letter. To improve, you should use linking words such as 'furthermore', 'consequently', or 'however' to connect your ideas and ensure you follow the standard format for a formal letter, including a proper opening and closing.

Lexical Resource — Band 5.0

The vocabulary is very basic and repetitive. There are errors in word choice, such as 'increasing agreement' instead of 'extending the lease' or 'tenancy agreement'. The phrase 'for long time' is grammatically incomplete and lacks the necessary article. You rely on simple, everyday language that does not demonstrate the range required for a higher band score. To improve, try to incorporate more precise vocabulary related to renting and housing, and focus on using correct collocations.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 5.0

There are frequent grammatical errors throughout the text that occasionally impede clarity. Examples include 'Now in want to rent' (should be 'I want'), 'three next month' (should be 'the next three months'), and 'i am not move' (should be 'I am not moving'). The sentence structures are simple and lack variety. Punctuation is also inconsistent, with missing spaces after commas and incorrect capitalization of 'i'. You need to focus on basic sentence construction, subject-verb agreement, and consistent use of articles and pronouns.

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

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