Band 6.5 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 6.5 · 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 6.5)

Dear Mr. John,

I am writing this request letter to extend my stay at your apartment at 9th Street SW. We had agreement for six month to stay, however I would like to increase time.

I moved to your suit because of my 6 months employment contract with company name "Simon Technology", but they want me to stay more 4 months as there are few things which needs to be done before I finish agreement with them.

I came here to build a software for them, although work has been done they want me to do marketing for them. Because, I have a good experience on it and I am fully aware about this software, hence I can explain to the audience properly.

On top of that, I would like to request you to consider my problem, as some power sockets are not in working condition which need to be changed.

I would really appreciate if you consider my request at your earliest opportunity.

Yours Sincerely,

Patel Faisal

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 6.5

The letter successfully addresses all three bullet points: the duration of the extension, the reason for the change in plans, and the maintenance issue. The tone is appropriate for a formal request to a landlord. However, the development of ideas is somewhat basic. For instance, the explanation regarding the software marketing could be more concisely linked to the request for an extension. While all requirements are met, the response lacks the depth of development required for a higher band score, as some explanations feel slightly repetitive.

Coherence and Cohesion — Band 6.5

The letter is logically organized into clear paragraphs, each serving a specific purpose. The progression of ideas is easy to follow. However, the use of cohesive devices is somewhat mechanical and repetitive (e.g., 'because', 'hence', 'on top of that'). While the paragraphing is appropriate, the transitions between sentences could be more sophisticated to improve the flow of the text. Overall, the message is clear, and the structure supports the reader's understanding effectively.

Lexical Resource — Band 6.0

The vocabulary is adequate for the task, allowing the student to communicate their needs clearly. There are some instances of slightly unnatural phrasing, such as 'increase time' instead of 'extend my lease' and 'suit' instead of 'apartment' or 'unit'. The range of vocabulary is sufficient to convey the intended meaning, but it lacks the precision and flexibility associated with higher bands. There are no significant spelling errors, but the word choices are generally functional rather than sophisticated.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 6.0

The student uses a mix of simple and complex sentence structures. There are several grammatical errors, such as 'We had agreement for six month' (missing articles and pluralization) and 'some power sockets are not in working condition which need to be changed' (slightly awkward relative clause usage). While these errors are noticeable, they do not impede communication. The control over basic grammar is generally good, but more complex structures often contain minor inaccuracies, preventing a higher score.

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

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