Band 7.5 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 7.5 · Cambridge IELTS 19 · 2026-08-15

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 Mike,

I am writing to request an extension to my lease agreement for another 4 months due to some changes to my work. I understand that we had signed the lease for 6 months previously because my internship was only for 6 months in this town. However, I recently learned that my company is extending my internship for another 4 months before sending me to another town for full-time placement.

Due to this change, I would need to stay for longer than expected. I would appreciate it if you could allow me to stay and I will send you the rent for next month right away.

Also, I wanted to write you up in regards to a recent problem in the apartment. There is a significant leak in the kitchen through the ceiling and the situation becomes worse while it rains. It would be great if you could get it fixed as soon as you can if we are moving forward with my stay.

I look forward to your response.

Yours sincerely,

Harman

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 (4 months), provided a logical explanation for the change in plans regarding your internship, and described the kitchen leak issue effectively. The tone is appropriate for a formal letter to a landlord, and the purpose of the communication is clear from the outset. The response is well-structured and covers all requirements of the task, demonstrating a clear understanding of the communicative goal. No parts of the task were omitted, and the information provided is relevant and sufficient.

Coherence and Cohesion — Band 8.0

The letter is logically organized with a clear progression of ideas. Each paragraph focuses on a specific aspect of the request, which makes the letter easy to follow. You have used appropriate cohesive devices such as 'However,' 'Due to this change,' and 'Also,' which help to link your ideas smoothly. The paragraphing is logical and contributes to the overall clarity of the message. The transition between the request for an extension and the report of the maintenance issue is handled naturally, ensuring the reader understands the shift in topic without confusion.

Lexical Resource — Band 7.0

You demonstrate a good range of vocabulary that is appropriate for a formal request. Phrases like 'lease agreement,' 'full-time placement,' and 'significant leak' are used accurately. While the vocabulary is functional and clear, it could be further enhanced by incorporating more sophisticated collocations or less common lexical items to reach the highest band. There are no significant errors in word choice or spelling that impede communication. The language used is natural and fits the context of a professional correspondence between a tenant and a landlord.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 7.5

Your grammar is generally accurate, and you have used a mix of simple and complex sentence structures effectively. For example, the use of 'I would appreciate it if you could...' shows good control over conditional structures. There are very few errors, and those that exist (such as 'write you up in regards to' which is slightly informal/unnatural) do not hinder the reader's understanding. The majority of your sentences are error-free, and your control over punctuation and verb tenses is consistent throughout the letter, which is a hallmark of a strong performance.

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

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