Band 5.0 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 5.0 · Cambridge IELTS 19 · 2026-10-15

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 5.0)

Dear Madam,

I am writing this letter to request you to stay longer in your apartment.

I have been living in your apartment for the last two months, and now I want to extend my contract. Initially, I had work here for 6 months related to my previous work. I like this city and I searched for good job in which I can earn more according to my qualification. So, now I got my job in my feild. I will stay here for one year until I got my promtion. Also, my office is very near from my apartment. So, it will be very easy for me to travel between office and home. Apar from this, my mother is also coming next month. She will stay with me. This is perfect place for me and my mother because all grocery stores, shopping mall and parks are very near to this building. So, it will be very easy for my mother as well to do all things without any difficulties.

I hope you will extend the lease for one year.

Thank you

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response: Band 3.5

The letter gives a clear reason for wanting to remain: you have found a job related to your qualifications, your office is nearby, and your mother will be visiting. However, it does not fully address the task because it never mentions the required problem in the apartment. The requested rental period is also unclear: “I will stay here for one year” could mean one year from now or one year in total, and the letter does not clearly connect this to the original six-month agreement. The opening request, “request you to stay longer,” also does not clearly say that you are asking the owner to let you stay. State the exact extension period, explain the changed plans briefly, and include a specific apartment problem and a request for it to be fixed.

Coherence and Cohesion: Band 5.0

The ideas are generally understandable and follow a sensible order: you explain your work plans, give reasons the location suits you, and finish by asking for an extension. Linking phrases such as “So,” “Also,” and “Apart from this” help show how the points relate. However, the letter is presented as one long paragraph, so the request, explanation, and practical details are not clearly separated. Several sentences also repeat the idea that the location is convenient, and the final request does not clearly summarise the exact period sought. Use separate paragraphs for the request and explanation, then close with a concise statement of the proposed extension and the apartment issue.

Lexical Resource: Band 5.5

You use enough vocabulary to communicate the main circumstances, including “extend my contract,” “qualification,” and “lease.” Some wording is imprecise or unnatural, however, and spelling errors are noticeable: “feild,” “promtion,” and “Apar” should be corrected. Phrases such as “good job,” “earn more according to my qualification,” and “do all things” are broad or awkward for a formal letter. More precise expressions would make your reasons clearer and more professional. For example, describe the position as a “job in my field” and say that nearby shops and parks make the area convenient for your mother. Check spelling and collocations carefully before submitting.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy: Band 5.5

The response includes both simple sentences and longer sentences with reasons, such as “I like this city and I searched for good job…” This shows an attempt to use connected structures, and the overall meaning is usually clear. There are recurring problems with verb forms, articles, and sentence patterns. In “until I got my promtion,” the future meaning calls for “until I get,” while “I searched for good job” needs an article. “I am writing this letter to request you to stay longer” uses an unclear grammatical pattern; write “to ask if I may stay longer.” The sentence about earning more “according to my qualification” is also difficult to structure naturally. Practise accurate request forms and future clauses, while keeping longer sentences controlled.

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