Band 5.5 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 5.5 · Cambridge IELTS 19 · 2026-10-20

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...........,

I am writing to inform you that I want to stay in the apparment for longer time. I want to rent the appartment for more three months. Because I did not finish my job her so, I need more time to finish what I have started. furthermore, I live in a very distant country, so that, I could not travel every day to go back home. It is very exhausted and it will cost me a lot of money.

therefore, I hope to extend my contract for more three months to finish my task here and save time and money.

moreover, I want to tell you that the air condetion needs to be maitained. because it is leaking and the temperature is very hot. I would appreciate it if you could deal with this issue and I hope to receive a reply as soon as possible.

yours, sincerely,

Rehab

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response: Band 6.0

You address all three required points: you request a further three months, explain that your work is unfinished and returning home would be difficult and costly, and report that the air conditioner is leaking. The purpose is clear and the details are relevant. However, some points are less fully explained than others: the reason your work is unfinished is not specified, and the apartment problem could be described more precisely, including when the leak occurs or what repair is needed. A more complete request would also state the proposed extension dates and ask the owner to confirm the arrangement. These additions would make the letter more fully developed.

Coherence and Cohesion: Band 5.5

The letter follows a generally sensible order: you first request an extension and explain your circumstances, then raise the maintenance issue and ask for a reply. This makes the main purpose understandable. However, the ideas are presented in one continuous block, so the request, explanation and repair issue are not clearly separated into paragraphs. Linking words such as “furthermore,” “therefore” and “moreover” help connect points, but their use feels mechanical, and the opening “Because” creates an awkward transition. Use separate paragraphs for the extension and the apartment problem, and connect ideas through their meaning rather than adding a linker to each sentence.

Lexical Resource: Band 5.0

You use enough relevant vocabulary to communicate the main points, including “extend my contract,” “finish my task” and “leaking.” However, the range is limited and several noticeable spelling and word-choice errors reduce accuracy: “apparment,” “condetion” and “maitained” are misspelled, while “very exhausted” does not naturally describe a journey or situation. “For more three months” is also an unnatural expression. These issues do not prevent the reader from understanding your request, but they make the letter less precise and polished. Check spelling carefully and learn common collocations for renting, travel and maintenance.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy: Band 5.0

You attempt both simple and longer sentence forms, for example, “I want to rent the apartment for more three months” and the sentence explaining that travel would be difficult and costly. The main message remains understandable, but the range is limited and attempts to connect clauses are often faulty. “Because I did not finish my job her so” is an incomplete and incorrectly joined construction; “I hope to extend my contract … to finish” would be clearer as a complete sentence with a more accurate verb form. Capitalisation and punctuation are also inconsistent, particularly at the starts of sentences and in the closing. Practise forming complete clauses and punctuating them consistently.

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.