Band 9.0 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 9.0 · Cambridge IELTS 19 · 2026-08-03

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 9.0)

Dear Sir or Madam,

I hope you are doing well. I am writing to ask if I could extend my rental agreement for my apartment. Instead of moving out after the current six-month agreement ends, I would like to stay for another twelve months.

When I first rented the apartment, I expected to move to another city for work after six months. However, my employer has recently offered me a permanent position here, so I have decided to remain in the city. Since I am very comfortable in the apartment and enjoy the neighbourhood, I would prefer to continue living here.

I would also like to inform you about a problem in the apartment. Over the past two weeks, the kitchen sink has been leaking, and water is collecting underneath it. I am concerned that this may cause further damage if it is not repaired soon. I would appreciate it if you could arrange for someone to fix it at your earliest convenience.

Thank you for considering my request. I hope you will allow me to extend my tenancy, and I look forward to hearing from you soon.

Yours faithfully,

John Smith

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 9.0

The response fully addresses all three bullet points required by the prompt. You clearly stated the desired extension period (twelve months), provided a logical explanation for the change in plans (a permanent job offer), and described the maintenance issue (a leaking kitchen sink) with sufficient detail. The tone is appropriate for a formal letter to a landlord, and the purpose of the communication is clear from the outset. All parts of the task are well-developed, and the response maintains a consistent focus throughout.

Coherence and Cohesion — Band 9.0

The letter is logically organized with a clear progression of ideas. Each paragraph focuses on a specific aspect of the request, which makes the information easy to follow. You have used cohesive devices effectively, such as 'Instead of', 'However', and 'Since', to link your ideas smoothly. The paragraphing is appropriate, and the opening and closing salutations are correctly formatted for a formal letter. The flow of information is natural and professional, ensuring that the reader can easily understand your intentions.

Lexical Resource — Band 8.0

You have used a sufficient range of vocabulary to convey your message with precision. Phrases such as 'extend my rental agreement', 'permanent position', and 'at your earliest convenience' are natural and appropriate for this context. The word choices are accurate, and there are no instances where vocabulary limitations impede communication. While the vocabulary is functional and correct, it is standard for this type of correspondence; incorporating a few more sophisticated collocations could further enhance the professional tone.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 9.0

The response demonstrates a high level of grammatical control. You have used a variety of sentence structures, including complex sentences like 'Since I am very comfortable in the apartment and enjoy the neighbourhood, I would prefer to continue living here.' The punctuation is accurate, and there are no noticeable grammatical errors. The majority of your sentences are error-free, and the overall control of tense and agreement is excellent, reflecting a very high level of proficiency.

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