Band 6.0 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 6.0 · Cambridge IELTS 19 · 2026-10-16

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 Mr. Louis Smith,

I am writing to you because I rented an apartment under a six-month agreement. Now I would like to stay in the apartment for longer than six months. However, I like the location because everything is very easy to access, such as shops and restaurants, and the main benefit is that I do not need to spend more money on transportation; my office is within walking distance of the apartment. My plans have changed because my company has one project in this city; on the other hand, I recently joined a language course, and they can not refund me if I quit. This course is very beneficial for my future learning. I could stay longer than one year, and I would like to extend my rental agreement if you agree. There is one problem I have been facing in the apartment. There is no hot water in the bathroom. As you know, the weather has changed. I would appreciate it if you could fix it.

I look forward to your response.

Best wishes,

Sumbal

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response: Band 6.5

You address all three points: you request a longer stay, explain the changed circumstances, and report that there is no hot water in the bathroom. The request to stay “longer than one year” gives the owner a useful indication of duration, and the reasons involving your company project and language course are relevant. The letter is appropriately polite, especially in “I would appreciate it if you could fix it.” However, the reasons are not fully developed: the link between the project and your plans is brief, and the course explanation could be clearer. The opening also spends time repeating that you rented under a six-month agreement rather than moving directly to the extension request. More precise explanation of your intended dates and circumstances would strengthen the response.

Coherence and Cohesion: Band 5.5

The information is generally understandable and follows a sensible broad order: the extension request and reasons come before the apartment problem and closing. However, the response is presented as one long paragraph, so the separate purposes of the letter are not visually clear. Some linking is also mechanical or confusing. For example, “However” does not clearly contrast with the preceding request, while “on the other hand” does not express a clear opposition between the company project and the language course. The sentence beginning “Now I would like…” could lead into a paragraph explaining your plans, followed by a separate paragraph about the hot-water problem. Use connectors only where the relationship between ideas is clear, and make references such as “they” unambiguous.

Lexical Resource: Band 6.0

You use an adequate range of vocabulary for the situation, including “six-month agreement,” “walking distance,” “rental agreement,” and “refund.” These choices communicate the main points, and the tone is suitably courteous. There are, however, some awkward or imprecise expressions that limit naturalness. “Everything is very easy to access” is less idiomatic than saying that shops and restaurants are nearby, and “one project in this city” is vague in this context. “This course is very beneficial for my future learning” is also repetitive and not especially natural. Aim for more precise collocations when describing your reasons and the repair request; this would make the letter sound more fluent and professional without requiring unusually advanced vocabulary.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy: Band 6.5

You show a useful mix of simple and complex structures, including the conditional request “I would appreciate it if you could fix it” and the sentence explaining that your office is within walking distance. Most of the message remains clear, and errors do not prevent the reader from understanding your intentions. Some grammatical choices need more control. In “I rented an apartment under a six-month agreement,” the past tense may suggest that the rental has ended, although you are still living there; “I have been renting” would fit the situation better. In “they can not refund me,” the pronoun’s reference is unclear, and the sentence could be recast to identify who cannot provide a refund. Check punctuation and sentence boundaries as well, since several ideas are joined into a long paragraph.

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

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