Band 7.0 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 7.0 · 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 7.0)

Dear Samantha,

I hope you are doing fine. I am writing this letter in regards to the six month lease of the apartment rented. According to the pre-signed document, the authorized stay was for only six months. If possible, I would like to extend the period of stay to one year, and could you please also be able to adjust the duration from six to eighteen months?

I have changed my plans as my employer has recently asked me to work on a project for another year, which requires me to work from home during that time. Hence, I would like to stay in the same apartment as it is convenient and saves the time required for shifting to a new place.

Also, I would like to address a mould issue that has been growing in the washroom. I have noticed mould growth besides the toilet since a week, although I tried to kill it by spraying insecticide, but I have failed doing so. I would really appreciate if you can come and have a look personally. Please let me know if you need to discuss further about the agreement.

Yours sincerely,

James Anderson

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 7.0

The letter covers all three bullet points effectively. You clearly state the desire to extend the lease, explain the change in plans due to work requirements, and report the mould issue. However, there is a slight inconsistency in your request: you initially ask for a one-year extension, but then ask to adjust the duration to eighteen months. This creates confusion regarding your actual intent. Despite this, the tone is appropriate for a formal request to a landlord, and the purpose of the letter is clear throughout.

Coherence and Cohesion — Band 7.5

The letter is well-organized with a clear paragraph structure. Each paragraph focuses on a specific requirement of the prompt, which aids readability. You use cohesive devices such as 'According to', 'Hence', and 'Although' to link ideas. While the transition between the request for extension and the mention of the mould issue is a bit abrupt, the overall progression of ideas is logical and easy to follow. The use of paragraphing is appropriate for a formal letter.

Lexical Resource — Band 6.5

You demonstrate a sufficient range of vocabulary to convey your message clearly. Phrases like 'pre-signed document' and 'authorized stay' are formal and appropriate. However, there are some minor inaccuracies in word choice, such as 'besides the toilet' (which should be 'beside') and 'failed doing so' (which is slightly unnatural). The use of 'insecticide' to treat mould is also technically incorrect, as a fungicide or mould remover would be the appropriate term. These errors do not impede communication but show a need for more precise collocation.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 7.0

You use a mix of simple and complex sentence structures effectively. Most sentences are clear and grammatically sound. There are a few minor errors, such as 'I have noticed mould growth... since a week' (should be 'for a week') and 'if you can come and have a look personally' (which is acceptable but could be more formal). The punctuation is generally accurate. While there are occasional slips, the majority of your sentences are error-free, and your meaning is never in doubt.

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

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