Band 7.5 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 7.5 · Cambridge IELTS 19 · 2026-08-20

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 Mr. Hayden,

I hope this finds you well. I am writing enthusiastically to extend my stay at your apartment as I have thoroughly enjoyed during these five months and wish to do the same for a longer duration.

Initially I signed a six-month lease before agreeing to move in, and I now intend to extend my lease by another 12 months. I love how calm the vicinity is.

This house is fabulous in every aspect and it definitely did outrank my expectations prior to occupying. The property is maintained well and also the fact that I have a range of closets to store things, is a major bonus. Besides these, convenience is a key factor that influenced my decision to stay longer here.

However, the software running the in-unit laundry seems to be outdated and is not reading my inputs. I hope that you can look into this at your earliest possible.

It is just a minor issue and does not take away the fact that this home is ideal for my needs and comfort. I am eagerly awaiting your response.

Kind regards,

Susan

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 8.0

You have successfully addressed all three bullet points required by the task. You clearly stated the desired extension period (12 months), explained the reasons for your request (the calm vicinity and convenience), and described the specific issue with the laundry software. 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 a rental agreement. You have fully met the requirements of the task.

Coherence and Cohesion — Band 8.0

The letter is logically organized with a clear progression of ideas. Each paragraph serves a distinct purpose, moving from the request to the justification and finally the maintenance issue. You use cohesive devices such as 'Initially', 'Besides these', and 'However' to link your thoughts effectively. The paragraphing is appropriate for a formal letter, and the flow of information is smooth throughout. The structure is coherent, and the relationship between the ideas is easy to follow, which is characteristic of a high-level response.

Lexical Resource — Band 7.0

You demonstrate a good range of vocabulary, using terms like 'vicinity', 'occupying', and 'outdated' appropriately. There is a clear attempt to use more sophisticated language, such as 'thoroughly enjoyed' and 'major bonus'. While some phrases like 'software running the in-unit laundry' are slightly clunky, they do not impede communication. The word choice is generally precise and fits the formal tone of the letter well. You show a good awareness of collocation and style, which supports a solid score in this criterion.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 7.5

You use a mix of simple and complex sentence structures effectively. For example, 'I hope that you can look into this at your earliest possible' is a clear, complex construction. There are a few minor slips, such as 'enjoyed during these five months' (should be 'enjoyed these five months') and 'at your earliest possible' (should be 'at your earliest convenience'). However, these errors are infrequent and do not interfere with the overall meaning of your message. The majority of your sentences are error-free, showing good control over grammar and punctuation.

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