Band 8.0 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 8.0 · Cambridge IELTS 19 · 2026-08-26

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 Mr Smith,

I am writing to inform you that there have been some changes in plans and I would like to extend my stay in your apartment.

Previously we agreed on a six month tenancy agreement, and I was supposed to vacate the apartment by the end of this month. However, I have to extend it now by another six months, from September 2026 to February 2027.

This is because my internship has been extended by another six months. Therefore, I will be staying in the same city for a longer period of time and don't want to move to a new place as I like this apartment.

Moreover, I want to bring it to your notice that the sink faucet in the kitchen has started leaking again. If you could send a plumber soon to have it checked, it would prevent further leaking issues.

I hope my extended stay doesn't cause you any inconvenience, and I look forward to your email with the confirmation of the tenancy extension.

Yours sincerely,

Rashpal Kaur

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 8.0

The response fully addresses all three bullet points of the task. You clearly state the desired extension period, provide a logical reason for the change in plans (internship extension), and report the maintenance issue regarding the kitchen faucet. The tone is appropriate for a formal letter to a landlord. The ideas are well-developed and the purpose of the letter is clear from the outset. You have successfully covered all requirements of the prompt in a professional and concise manner.

Coherence and Cohesion — Band 8.0

The letter is well-organized with a clear logical progression. Each paragraph focuses on a specific point requested in the prompt, which makes the information easy to follow. You use appropriate cohesive devices such as 'However', 'Therefore', and 'Moreover' to link your ideas effectively. The paragraphing is logical and contributes to the overall clarity of the message. The transition between the request for extension and the mention of the maintenance issue is smooth and natural.

Lexical Resource — Band 7.5

You demonstrate a good range of vocabulary suitable for a formal request. Phrases like 'tenancy agreement', 'vacate the apartment', and 'bring it to your notice' are accurate and appropriate for the context. The language is natural and precise throughout the letter. While the vocabulary is functional and effective, it stays within a standard range; incorporating slightly more sophisticated collocations could elevate the score further, but the current usage is error-free and perfectly suited to the task requirements.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 8.5

Your grammar is highly accurate, with a variety of sentence structures used correctly. You successfully employ complex sentences, such as 'If you could send a plumber soon to have it checked, it would prevent further leaking issues,' which demonstrates good control over conditional structures. There are no significant grammatical errors, and punctuation is used correctly throughout. The writing is fluent and error-free, reflecting a high level of control over English syntax and morphology.

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