Band 5.5 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 5.5 · Cambridge IELTS 19 · 2026-09-10

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 Mr. Jacob,

I am writing to informed you that five months ago, I have started to live in your apartment with a six- month agreement, although I would like to stay longer than six-months, therefore I want to extend the agreement.

I would say that this apartment is very near to the working place where I am working as well as supermarket and shopping centers also very close to it, as per my perspective this apartment is convenient for me. Besides, I would say that I will pay one year rent for apartment because I got increment with salary.

I have changed my plan owing to study. Actually, I have started my part -time study so the study course near about three years and I may not move from here at least for three years. Hence, I would like to tell you about the problem which I faced ever in this apartment that is leakage in the bathroom and kitchen

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 5.5

You have addressed all three bullet points required by the task: stating the desired duration, explaining the change in plans, and mentioning the maintenance issue. However, the development of these points is somewhat uneven. The explanation regarding your study plans is clear, but the transition to the maintenance issue is abrupt and lacks a polite closing or a request for action, which is expected in a formal letter. To improve, ensure that each point is fully developed with a clear purpose and a professional tone throughout the entire correspondence.

Coherence and Cohesion — Band 5.5

The letter is organized into paragraphs, which helps the reader follow your ideas. However, the use of cohesive devices is sometimes mechanical or slightly awkward, such as the use of 'hence' and 'besides' to start sentences. There are also issues with sentence structure, particularly in the first paragraph where multiple clauses are joined by commas, creating run-on sentences. Improving the variety of linking words and ensuring that sentences are punctuated correctly would significantly enhance the flow and logical progression of your writing.

Lexical Resource — Band 5.5

Your vocabulary is generally adequate for the task, allowing you to convey your message clearly. You use some relevant terms like 'agreement', 'increment', and 'convenient'. However, there are some inaccuracies in word choice and collocation, such as 'working place' instead of 'workplace' and 'near about' which is informal and imprecise. To reach a higher band, try to use more natural collocations and avoid repetitive phrasing. Expanding your range of vocabulary to include more precise descriptors for your situation would be beneficial.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 5.5

There are frequent grammatical errors throughout the letter that occasionally impede the reader's understanding. For example, 'I am writing to informed you' should be 'I am writing to inform you', and 'I have started to live' is better expressed as 'I started living'. You also struggle with tense consistency and article usage (e.g., 'the study course near about three years'). While you attempt some complex structures, they are often marred by errors in verb forms and sentence construction. Focusing on basic subject-verb agreement and tense accuracy will help improve your score.

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

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