Band 8.0 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 8.0 · Cambridge IELTS 19 · 2026-08-12

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 8.0)

Dear Owner,

I am writing to inform you that I have been living in your apartment for the past five months, and I would like to extend my agreement for another six months.

I really like this apartment because it is conveniently located near my workplace. There are also bus stops and parking facilities nearby, which makes it very convenient for me.

I have decided to stay for another six months because I do not think I could find this kind of comfortable and understanding relationship with another landlord. You have always been very understanding of my situation as a student, and you have never caused any problems when I have paid my rent a few days late.

Another reason I would like to extend my stay is that my parents will be visiting me next month and will be staying with me for about a month. I would like to take them to explore the nearby attractions and interesting places. When I am at work, they will also be able to use the bus service to go to the supermarket or other places, which will be very convenient for them.

Lastly, I have only one concern regarding the parking. I would kindly request you to give me access to the parking space under the apartment for these additional six months. Having access to this parking would make my stay much more convenient, especially while my parents are visiting.

I would really appreciate your understanding and consideration of my request.

Yours respectfully,

Honey

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 8.0

You have successfully addressed all three bullet points in the prompt. You clearly stated the desired extension period, provided a logical explanation for your change in plans, and identified a specific issue regarding parking access. The tone is appropriate for a formal letter to a landlord, and the purpose of the communication is clear from the outset. The ideas are well-developed and relevant to the context of renting an apartment. To reach a higher band, ensure that the 'problem' mentioned is clearly framed as a request for resolution, which you have done well here.

Coherence and Cohesion — Band 8.0

The letter is logically organized with a clear progression of ideas. Each paragraph focuses on a specific point, which makes the letter easy to follow. You have used a variety of cohesive devices such as 'Another reason', 'Lastly', and 'which makes it', which help to link your sentences and paragraphs effectively. The paragraphing is appropriate and contributes to the overall clarity of the message. The flow of information is natural and professional throughout the letter.

Lexical Resource — Band 7.0

You demonstrate a good range of vocabulary that is appropriate for the context of a formal request. Phrases like 'conveniently located', 'extend my agreement', and 'kindly request' are well-chosen and natural. While the vocabulary is sufficient and accurate, it is generally standard. To achieve a higher band, you could incorporate more precise or sophisticated collocations, such as 'tenancy agreement' instead of 'agreement' or 'accommodate my parents' instead of 'staying with me'. Overall, the language is clear and error-free.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 8.0

Your grammar is consistently accurate, and you have used a good mix of simple and complex sentence structures. For example, the use of relative clauses ('which makes it very convenient') and conditional structures ('if I could find') shows good control. There are very few errors, and those that exist do not impede communication at all. The punctuation is correct, and the sentence construction is varied enough to maintain the reader's interest. You have a strong grasp of English grammar suitable for this task.

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

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