Band 6.5 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 6.5 · Cambridge IELTS 19 · 2026-10-17

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 6.5)

Dear Mr. Sharma,

I hope you're doing well. I am writing this letter to request to you to extend my renting agreement by one more month as due to a sudden event, my moving plans have been changed.

Although as per the original agreement, I am supposed to leave the flat by the end of this month, I was wondering if you could extend it by just one more month because of the unexpected extension of my classes. This happen because of the sudden dismise of my professor that the classes got cancelled and postponed by a week. Thus, my course time also get extended by the first week of November.

Furthermore, I had to reschedule my plane ticket which was originally scheduled for November 2nd to November 24th. Hence, I need a place to stay for one more month. Since I am in this town only to complete a six months short term course, I am an absolute unknown to everyone here. Therefore, if you give me an extension on the agreement period, it would be of a great help.

Apart from that, there is one issue, I would like to bring into your attention. It is about the heat system in the apartment. The last time I talked to you, you mentioned to get it fix before winters. Since it is already winters, I would really appreciate if you could help me fixing the heat of the apartment which is down from months now. I have already sent you a letter about this a month ago.

I look forward towards your swift response.

Yours faithfully,

Komal

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response: Band 7.5

The letter addresses all three requirements: you request an additional month, explain that your course was extended after your professor’s sudden departure, and report that the heating system has been out of order. The request is clear and supported with relevant details, including the change to your flight date. The tone is generally appropriate and polite, and the closing suits a formal letter. To make the explanation more fully developed, clarify the exact rental dates—for example, the date the extension would begin and end—and make the connection between the course delay and needing the apartment until November 24 explicit. The heating complaint is relevant, though a concise request for a repair date would make the desired action clearer.

Coherence and Cohesion: Band 7.0

The information is arranged in a clear sequence: you introduce the extension request, explain the changed plans, then raise the heating problem and close. Paragraphing helps distinguish these purposes, and linking expressions such as “Furthermore,” “Hence,” and “Apart from that” guide the reader through the letter. Some connections are less smooth or slightly repetitive: the first paragraph already mentions changed plans, and the next paragraph repeats the request before explaining the course delay. “Thus” and “Hence” also make the progression somewhat mechanical. You could improve flow by grouping the course and flight details together, then stating the precise extension period once. This would preserve the clear overall organisation while making cohesion more flexible.

Lexical Resource: Band 6.0

You use an adequate range for a formal request, including “unexpected extension,” “reschedule,” “agreement period,” and “swift response.” These choices communicate the main points, and the reader can understand the heating complaint. However, several word choices or collocations are inaccurate or unnatural, such as “dismise of my professor,” “heat system,” “get it fix,” and “help me fixing the heat.” “I am an absolute unknown to everyone here” is also an awkward way to explain why you need accommodation. Aim for more natural combinations such as “the departure of my professor,” “heating system,” and “arrange to have it repaired.” Greater precision and more consistent control of collocation would strengthen the vocabulary.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy: Band 6.0

You attempt a mix of simple and complex sentences, including clauses introduced by “Although,” “because,” and “Since,” and most of the message remains understandable. Some grammatical errors occur in verb forms, sentence construction, and prepositions. For example, “I am writing this letter to request to you” has an unnecessary preposition, while “This happen” and “my course time also get extended” need past-tense forms. In “you mentioned to get it fix,” the clause structure and verb form are inaccurate; “you mentioned that you would get it fixed” would be clearer. There are also awkward constructions such as “I look forward towards.” Review tense consistency and verb patterns, while continuing to use complex sentences; this will improve accuracy without sacrificing range.

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