Band 6.5 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 6.5 · Cambridge IELTS 19 · 2026-11-03

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. Smith,

I am writing this letter to request for change in my rental agrrement which I have signed five months before. Due to some circumstances, I would like to extend my stay in this property .

As per my current scenario, I would like to continue my stay at this location for six more months, If it is available for that extension .

Right now, me and my husband waiting for his joining letter from the complany, which will approximately take couple of more months. As a result, we have decided not to move from this place.

Moreover, I would like to mention about ongoing drainage issue in the apartment since we have moved here. I like to solve this issue as soon as possible with your support.

I will wait for your positive response in this matter. Hoping to hear back from you as per your convenience.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response: Band 7.0

The letter addresses all three required points: you request a further six months, explain that you and your husband are waiting for his joining letter, and report an ongoing drainage problem. Your purpose is clear throughout, and the reason for the changed plans is relevant. The request and explanation are sufficiently extended to show why you wish to remain, while the apartment problem is mentioned but could be more fully explained—for example, its effects or when it occurs. The closing is polite and appropriate. To strengthen the response further, make the requested extension and the repair request more specific, such as asking the owner to confirm availability and arrange an inspection.

Coherence and Cohesion: Band 7.0

The information follows a clear, logical sequence: you introduce the request, state the proposed rental period, explain the change in plans, and then raise the maintenance issue. Paragraphing helps distinguish these points, and phrases such as “As a result” and “Moreover” make the progression easy to follow. The letter also has a suitable opening and closing. Some linking is slightly mechanical, and the final two sentences repeat the idea of waiting for a response. You could make the ending more concise and connect the drainage issue directly to a specific request for action. Overall, the organisation is clear and the reader can follow your purpose without difficulty.

Lexical Resource: Band 6.0

You use an adequate range of vocabulary for a formal rental letter, including “extend my stay,” “current scenario,” and “ongoing drainage issue.” The meaning remains clear, but some word choices and collocations are inaccurate or unnatural, such as “request for change,” “joining letter,” and “mention about.” There are also spelling errors in “agrrement” and “complany,” which reduce accuracy. Aim for more natural formal expressions and check spelling carefully; for example, “request an extension,” “employment confirmation,” and “report the drainage problem” would communicate your meaning more precisely. Your vocabulary is sufficient for the task, but greater control of collocation would make the letter sound more fluent and professional.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy: Band 6.0

The letter includes a mix of simple and more complex sentence forms, including the reason clause beginning “Right now” and the result expressed with “As a result.” Most sentences communicate the intended meaning, but some grammatical errors remain. For example, “I am writing this letter to request for change” has an incorrect verb pattern, and “me and my husband waiting” is missing an auxiliary verb. The conditional phrase “If it is available for that extension” is also awkwardly attached to the preceding sentence, and “since we have moved here” does not fit naturally with the ongoing issue. Review verb patterns, subject forms, and clause construction, and use punctuation to separate complete sentences. These changes would improve accuracy while preserving your range.

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

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