Band 7.0 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 7.0 · Cambridge IELTS 19 · 2026-08-16

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 Mr. Davis,

I am writing to request an extension on the rent agreement for the apartment as I would like to rent it out for a few extra months due to uncertain changes in my plan.

The original agreement was for 6 months and set to expire on September 2026. I have been staying in the apartment for 5 months now and I want to extend the apartment lease for an extra duration of 8 months till April 2027.

I am asking for this extension as my University has mandated for every student to undergo an internship at the local workshop. The internship aids in gaining practical experience and has been made compulsory as a part of our coursework.

On a side note, I would like to draw your attention to the issue of water leakage in the apartment bathroom. The problem started about 2 weeks ago and you might have to arrange for a plumber to have a look at it.

It would mean a great deal to me if you would consider my request for extending the lease as well as fixing the leakage.

Yours sincerely,

Jane.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 7.5

The letter successfully addresses all three bullet points required by the task. You clearly state the desired duration of the extension, provide a logical reason for the change in plans (the university internship), and report the maintenance issue regarding the bathroom leak. The tone is appropriate for a formal request to a landlord. The ideas are well-developed and the purpose of the letter is clear from the outset. You have met all the requirements of the task effectively, ensuring the reader understands both your request for an extension and the need for repairs.

Coherence and Cohesion — Band 7.5

The letter is well-organized with a clear logical progression. Each paragraph focuses on a specific point, which makes the information easy to follow. You use appropriate paragraphing and transition phrases such as 'On a side note' and 'The original agreement was', which help to link ideas smoothly. The use of cohesive devices is sufficient and natural throughout the text. The letter follows a standard formal structure, beginning with a clear opening and ending with a polite closing, which contributes to the overall coherence of the response.

Lexical Resource — Band 6.5

You demonstrate a good range of vocabulary appropriate for a formal letter. Phrases like 'mandated for every student', 'draw your attention to', and 'practical experience' are used accurately. While the vocabulary is functional and clear, it could be slightly more sophisticated to reach the highest bands. For example, instead of 'rent it out', which usually refers to the landlord's action, you could use 'extend my tenancy'. Overall, the lexical range is sufficient to convey your meaning precisely without any significant errors in word choice or collocation.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 7.0

The letter displays a good control of grammatical structures. You use a mix of simple and complex sentences effectively, such as 'It would mean a great deal to me if you would consider my request'. There are very few errors, and those present do not impede communication. The punctuation is generally accurate, and the sentence construction is clear. While the grammar is strong, incorporating a slightly wider variety of complex sentence structures or more nuanced modal verbs could further enhance the quality of the writing.

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

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