Band 6.0 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 6.0 · Cambridge IELTS 19 · 2026-09-07

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 6.0)

Dear Ms. Elisa,

I hope you are doing well. I am writing to request for an extension to our rental agreement.

If it is possible, I intend to say in the unit for an additional 5 months. My original plan is to lease the unit for 6 months. This is because I already have a place at my parents' house, and it is currently undergoing renovation. However, after my one month stay in your apartment, I feel the independence that I am longing for, not that I do not have one in my parents' house.

Additionally, one of the main reasons why I would like to stay in the apartment longer than what is stipulated in our agreement is the facilities of the unit. For example, the built-in air conditioner, which I find very energy efficient. Moreover, the 24/7 security personnel that made renters feel generally safe. For instance, I can sleep peacefully knowing that there are guards looking after the building.

On the other hand, I would like to recommend for parking facilities within the apartment as this is essential for workers and students alike.

Thank you for your time and consideration.

Kind regards,

Cybell

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 6.0

You have addressed all three bullet points in the prompt: the duration of the extension, the reason for the change, and a problem in the apartment. However, the third bullet point regarding a 'problem' was not fully addressed. You mentioned a recommendation for parking, which is a suggestion rather than a problem with the current apartment. To improve, you should describe an actual issue, such as a leaking tap or a broken appliance, to satisfy the task requirements more accurately. The tone is appropriate for a formal letter to a landlord.

Coherence and Cohesion — Band 6.5

The letter is logically organized with clear paragraphing. You use some cohesive devices such as 'Additionally', 'Moreover', and 'For instance' to link ideas. However, the transition between the explanation of your plans and the mention of the apartment facilities is slightly abrupt. The final paragraph regarding parking feels disconnected from the rest of the letter because it introduces a new topic that does not relate to the previous points. Improving the flow between paragraphs would enhance the overall coherence.

Lexical Resource — Band 6.0

You demonstrate an adequate range of vocabulary for the task, using terms like 'stipulated', 'independence', and 'energy efficient'. There are some minor inaccuracies in word choice, such as 'request for an extension' (the verb 'request' does not require 'for') and 'say in the unit' (a typo for 'stay'). While the vocabulary is sufficient to convey your meaning clearly, it lacks the precision and variety required for a higher band score. Focusing on more natural collocations would be beneficial.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 6.0

You use a mix of simple and complex sentence structures. There are several grammatical slips, such as 'My original plan is to lease' (should be 'was'), 'not that I do not have one' (which is slightly confusing), and 'made renters feel' (should be 'makes'). Punctuation is generally correct, but there are some awkward phrasings that slightly impede the flow. To reach a higher band, ensure consistent verb tense usage and refine your control over complex sentence structures to minimize these errors.

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

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