Band 6.0 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 6.0 · Cambridge IELTS 19 · 2026-10-04

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 Owner,

Hope you are doing well. As you know initially I have rented your apartment for six months, but now would like extend for an year, as my job became permanent now.

Firstly, I have joined the job on contract basis for six months and have rented your aparment for only six months. Since I have become a permanent employee now,I would like to extend my stay here for atleast one year. I liked the Accomodation here and commute wise its very near to my office.

Also, I would like to bring to your notice about the problems in the kithen. Dishwasher is not turning on properly for over a month and one burner on the Gas stove is not working. Please try to get them fixed at the earliest.

Please consider my request and do the needful!

Thanks,

Nikhitha

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response: Band 6.5

The response addresses all parts of the prompt, successfully covering the desired rental duration, the reason for the change in plans, and reporting apartment maintenance issues. However, the length requirement is not met, as the response falls slightly short of the 150-word minimum, containing 141 words. The ideas presented are generally relevant, but some aspects, such as the explanation regarding the job contract, feel a bit repetitive and under-developed. To reach a higher band, the writer should ensure the minimum word count is satisfied and expand more fully on the details of the request without unnecessary repetition, providing a more rounded and thorough response to the prompt.

Coherence and Cohesion: Band 6.0

The letter maintains a coherent overall arrangement and follows an appropriate structure for a semi-formal request. Paragraphing is used to separate the main points, such as the extension request, the reasons, and the maintenance problems. However, cohesion is occasionally mechanical or faulty. For instance, the transition between ideas could be smoother, and referencing is at times basic. While the progression of ideas is understandable, the use of cohesive devices is somewhat limited and lacks flexibility. To improve, the writer should employ a wider and more natural range of linking words and ensure that sentences flow seamlessly from one to the next without abrupt transitions.

Lexical Resource: Band 5.5

The vocabulary used is adequate for the task, successfully communicating the intended message to the apartment owner. The student attempts some less common vocabulary, such as 'permanent employee' and 'commute wise', though there are some inaccuracies in word choice and spelling, such as 'aparment' and 'kithen'. These minor errors do not impede communication, but they reflect a typical profile for this band level. To achieve a higher score, the student needs to demonstrate a more precise and flexible range of vocabulary, eliminate basic spelling mistakes, and incorporate more natural collocations and sophisticated lexical items appropriate for a letter of request.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy: Band 6.0

The writing displays a mix of simple and complex sentence forms, demonstrating control over basic sentence structures. There are some errors in grammar and punctuation, such as incorrect tense usage ('As you know initially I have rented' instead of 'initially rented') and missing articles or punctuation comma splices (e.g., 'permanent employee now,I would like'). However, these errors rarely impede communication and the meaning remains clear throughout. To move up to a higher band, the writer should aim for a greater variety of complex structures with improved accuracy, ensuring better control over verb tenses, punctuation, and dependent clauses.

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

Browse more IELTS Writing model answers or get your own writing scored by the same AI examiner.