Band 7.5 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 7.5 · Cambridge IELTS 19 · 2026-07-29

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 7.5)

Dear Sir or Madam,

I hope you are doing well. I am writing to inform you that I would like to extend my apartment lease beyond the current 6-month term, for which I am currently paying rent.

Currently, I am on six months renting apartment lease, which will be completed next month. I want to extend my lease for another six months. So, it will be easy for me to stay here.

Moreover, when I came here, I lacked knowledge about the place, and I was also jobless. So, at that time I decided to stay here for six months. However, I got my job just two days ago, and I am not only familiar with this place but also have a good relationship with my neighbors. Because of this, I changed my plan to live here.

I would like to tell you about an issue with the apartment. Water is leaking in the bathroom from the upper apartment. Because of this, I am unable to take a proper shower. I request that you take possible action regarding this problem.

Thank you for your time. I expect a positive response from you.

Best regards,

Khyati Patel

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 7.5

The letter successfully addresses all three bullet points required by the prompt. You clearly state the desired extension period (six months), explain the change in your circumstances (securing a job and settling into the neighborhood), and report the maintenance issue regarding the leaking bathroom ceiling. The tone is appropriate for a formal request to a landlord. The ideas are relevant and sufficiently developed to meet the task requirements. To reach a higher band, you could provide more specific details about the leak, such as when it started or the extent of the damage, to further demonstrate your ability to expand on ideas.

Coherence and Cohesion — Band 7.5

The letter is logically organized with a clear introduction, body paragraphs for each point, and a polite closing. Each paragraph focuses on a specific aspect of the task, which helps the reader follow your message easily. You use some cohesive devices like 'Moreover,' 'However,' and 'Because of this' to link your ideas. While the flow is generally good, some transitions feel slightly mechanical. To improve, try to vary your linking phrases and ensure that the connection between sentences is more fluid, particularly in the second paragraph where the sentences are somewhat short and choppy.

Lexical Resource — Band 7.0

You demonstrate an adequate range of vocabulary for this task, using terms like 'extend my apartment lease,' 'current term,' and 'positive response.' The language is clear and appropriate for a formal letter. There are a few minor awkward phrasings, such as 'I am on six months renting apartment lease,' which is slightly unnatural. To improve, focus on more precise collocations and idiomatic expressions related to housing and formal correspondence. Your spelling is accurate throughout the letter, and the vocabulary used is sufficient to convey your meaning without any ambiguity.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 7.0

You use a mix of simple and complex sentence structures. While most of your sentences are clear, there are some grammatical inaccuracies, such as 'I am on six months renting apartment lease' (should be 'I am on a six-month lease') and 'Water is leaking in the bathroom from the upper apartment' (could be 'Water is leaking into the bathroom from the apartment above'). Despite these errors, your meaning is always clear, and the mistakes do not impede communication. To aim for a higher band, focus on refining your use of articles and prepositions, and try to incorporate a wider variety of complex sentence structures.

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