Band 7.0 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 7.0 · Cambridge IELTS 19 · 2026-08-10

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 7.0)

Dear Robinson,

My name is George, I started living in your apartment five months ago. As you know, we agreed for six month contract however, there is a sudden change change in plans, and due to that I wish to stay five months longer in the apartment.

I rented this apartment because it is close to my university. I am currently persuing my degree that I calculated would finish in March 2026, however due to the shortage of staff in the university, the faculy has given us three months break to solve this issue that resulted in longer completion time for my degree. That's why it will take five more months for me to finish my program.

Apart from this, there is a problem in the bathrrom sink. The tap always leaks water. I tried fixing it, but still the problem continues. So, please kindly look into the issue.

Thank you for your understanding, waiting for a warm response.

Warm Regards,

George

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 7.5

You have successfully addressed all three bullet points in the prompt: stating the desired extension length, explaining the change in plans, and reporting the maintenance issue. The tone is appropriate for a formal letter to a landlord. The ideas are relevant and clearly explained, particularly the reason for the extension regarding your university studies. To reach a higher band, ensure that the opening and closing are slightly more conventional for a formal letter (e.g., 'Dear Mr. Robinson' instead of just 'Dear Robinson'). Overall, the task is fully completed with a clear purpose throughout.

Coherence and Cohesion — Band 7.0

The letter is logically organized into distinct paragraphs, each serving a specific purpose. The progression of ideas is clear, moving from the request to the justification and finally the maintenance issue. You use some cohesive devices like 'Apart from this' and 'however' to link your thoughts. However, the flow could be improved by using a wider variety of linking words to connect sentences more fluidly. The paragraphing is appropriate for a letter format, and the overall structure is easy to follow for the reader.

Lexical Resource — Band 6.5

You demonstrate an adequate range of vocabulary for the task. Words like 'persuing' (spelled 'pursuing'), 'completion', and 'maintenance' (implied) are relevant. There are some minor spelling errors, such as 'persuing' and 'faculy' (faculty), and a repetition of the word 'change'. To improve, try to use more precise collocations, such as 'extend my tenancy' instead of 'stay five months longer'. While the vocabulary is sufficient to convey your meaning clearly, it lacks the sophistication and variety required for a higher band score.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 6.5

You use a mix of simple and complex sentence structures. While your meaning is always clear, there are several grammatical slips, such as 'agreed for six month contract' (should be 'agreed to a six-month contract') and 'there is a sudden change change' (repetition). Punctuation is generally functional, though some sentences could be better connected to avoid comma splices. The majority of your sentences are accurate enough to communicate your message without difficulty, but more consistent control over articles and prepositions would enhance your score.

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.