Band 5.5 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer
Overall Band Score: 5.5 · Cambridge IELTS 19 · 2026-09-09
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 5.5)
Dear skyla,
Hope you are doing well. This letter is written by me about agreement of an apartment where i am living now. I want to permission from you for living here for longer than the six months because I am working near this building so its easier for me to work there if you give me permission I can signature new agreement with you for next six months.
Honestly speaking, before living here, i was little bit confused about my decision,however now I want to live here for longer time as its closer to my work place and near with grocery store.
But i want to tell about its drainage system is not working properly. Can you please solve this issue . I really appreciate you if you give me permission and solve this issue.
I look forward for your response.
Your faithfully
Gurdeep
AI examiner evaluation
| Criterion | Band |
|---|---|
| Task Achievement / Task Response | 5.5 |
| Coherence and Cohesion | 6.0 |
| Lexical Resource | 5.5 |
| Grammatical Range and Accuracy | 5.5 |
| Overall | 5.5 |
Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 5.5
The letter covers all three bullet points: the duration of the extension, the reason for the change, and the maintenance issue. However, the response is under the 150-word minimum, which negatively impacts the score. While the purpose is clear, the development of ideas is somewhat brief. To improve, you should expand on the reasons for your change in plans and provide more detail regarding the drainage issue to ensure the letter is sufficiently developed and meets the length requirement.
Coherence and Cohesion — Band 6.0
The letter is organized into paragraphs, which helps the reader follow the structure. However, the use of cohesive devices is limited and sometimes mechanical. For example, the transition between the request for extension and the maintenance issue is abrupt. The use of linking words like 'however' and 'but' is basic. To reach a higher band, you should use a wider variety of cohesive devices to connect your ideas more fluidly and ensure that the progression of the letter feels more natural.
Lexical Resource — Band 5.5
The vocabulary is adequate for the task but lacks variety and precision. You rely on simple phrasing such as 'living here' and 'working near'. There are also some awkward collocations, such as 'I can signature new agreement' (should be 'sign a new agreement') and 'near with grocery store' (should be 'near a grocery store'). To improve, try to incorporate more specific vocabulary related to renting and property maintenance, and focus on using correct word forms and prepositions.
Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 5.5
The letter contains a mix of simple and some complex sentence structures, but there are frequent grammatical errors. Examples include 'This letter is written by me about agreement' (missing articles), 'I want to permission' (incorrect verb usage), and 'Your faithfully' (incorrect closing). Punctuation is also inconsistent, with missing spaces after commas and periods. While the meaning is generally clear, these persistent errors in basic grammar and sentence construction prevent a higher score. Focus on subject-verb agreement and proper article usage.
See this exact question answered at other band scores — the same prompt compared across bands.
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