Band 7.0 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 7.0 · Cambridge IELTS 19 · 2026-08-23

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 Smith,

I hope you are doing well. I am writing this letter to express my wish to stay for another 6 months because my contract with the current company has been extended.

Specifically, the company has offered me the opportunity to work with them for another six months because of my outstanding performance. Moreover, the area around the flat has open fields; in the morning, I prefer to have fresh air. Furthermore, the gym area is my favorite to ease myself from the stress of my work.

However, I would like to mention a few difficulties I am facing in the flat. The showerhead in the bathroom has been leaking, and the lights in the kitchen have been flickering for the last 2 days. As a result, my daily routine is being affected.

I am hoping that the lease will be extended and the problems can be taken care of.

Yours sincerely,

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 7.0

The letter addresses all three bullet points required by the prompt. You clearly state the desired extension length, explain the change in plans due to your job extension, and identify the specific maintenance issues. The tone is appropriate for a formal request to a landlord. To reach a higher band, you could expand slightly on the impact of the maintenance issues to make the request more persuasive. Overall, the purpose of the letter is clear, and the reader is fully informed of your situation and requirements.

Coherence and Cohesion — Band 7.0

The letter is logically organized with a clear introduction, body paragraphs, and a closing. You use cohesive devices such as 'Specifically,' 'Moreover,' 'Furthermore,' and 'However' to link your ideas. While the flow is generally good, some transitions feel slightly mechanical. For instance, the jump from discussing your job to the gym area is a bit abrupt. Improving the way you connect these personal preferences to your desire to stay would enhance the overall flow. Paragraphing is used appropriately to separate the request from the maintenance concerns.

Lexical Resource — Band 6.5

You demonstrate an adequate range of vocabulary for the task, using terms like 'outstanding performance,' 'flickering,' and 'daily routine.' The language is natural and conveys your meaning effectively. There are no significant errors in word choice or collocation. To improve, you could incorporate more sophisticated or precise vocabulary to describe your living situation or the maintenance issues, such as 'prolong' instead of 'stay for another' or 'malfunctioning' instead of 'leaking'. The current level is sufficient for a clear and professional communication.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 7.0

The letter contains a mix of simple and complex sentence structures. Most sentences are error-free, and your meaning is always clear. There are minor issues, such as 'the gym area is my favorite to ease myself from the stress,' which is slightly awkward; 'to relieve the stress of my work' would be more natural. Punctuation is generally accurate. You show good control over verb tenses, particularly when discussing the duration of the lease and the ongoing maintenance problems. The grammar is consistent and does not impede communication.

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

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