Band 7.0 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 7.0 · Cambridge IELTS 19 · 2026-08-28

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 Owner,

I am writing to request for an extension of my lease agreement for the apartment which I have been renting from you.

Originally, I signed the lease for six months for renting this apartment; however, I would like to exceed it for another six months due to the unforeseen circumstances happened last week.

Actually, my manager assigned with another important project, which required me to stay in this city for almost four months. I have been informed last week, therefore, I have to inform you at last time. As I extremely feel comfortable in this apartment due to its location and excellent condition, I would not like to move somewhere for short period.

I also want to bring your attention to some of the problems in the apartment. There has been a water leakage, causing significant damage to kitchen cabinets under beneath. I am concerned about the further damage. I would request sending a plumber to inspect this problem and repair it as soon as possible.

I hope you would understand my situation and allow me to extend my lease.

Yours faithfully,

Harmeet

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 7.5

You have addressed all three bullet points required by the task. You clearly stated the desired extension period, provided a logical reason for the change in plans, and identified a specific maintenance issue. The tone is appropriate for a formal letter to a landlord. The ideas are relevant and well-developed, ensuring the reader understands your situation and your request. The letter follows the required structure and maintains a consistent purpose throughout. To improve further, ensure that the explanation of the 'unforeseen circumstances' is slightly more concise to allow more room for the request details.

Coherence and Cohesion — Band 7.0

The letter is logically organized with a clear progression of ideas. Each paragraph focuses on a specific aspect of the task, which helps the reader follow your request easily. You have used some cohesive devices such as 'however', 'therefore', and 'also' to link your sentences. However, some transitions feel slightly mechanical or repetitive. For instance, the flow between the explanation of the project and the request to stay could be smoother. Using a wider variety of linking phrases would help improve the overall flow and make the connections between your ideas more natural.

Lexical Resource — Band 6.5

You have a sufficient range of vocabulary to convey your message clearly. Phrases like 'unforeseen circumstances' and 'significant damage' are used effectively. However, there are some minor inaccuracies in word choice and collocation, such as 'exceed it for another six months' (which should be 'extend it') and 'under beneath' (which is redundant). Additionally, 'inform you at last time' is not a standard idiomatic expression. While these errors do not impede communication, refining your word choices and focusing on natural collocations will help you reach a higher band score.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 6.5

You demonstrate a mix of simple and complex sentence structures. There are several grammatical slips, such as 'request for an extension' (the verb 'request' does not take 'for'), 'circumstances happened' (should be 'that happened'), and 'move somewhere for short period' (missing an article). Despite these errors, your meaning is always clear, and the punctuation is generally accurate. To improve, focus on subject-verb agreement and the correct use of articles. Increasing the variety of complex structures, such as using more conditional sentences or passive voice, would also enhance your grammatical range.

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

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