Band 8.0 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 8.0 · Cambridge IELTS 19 · 2026-09-02

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. Singh,

I am writing to request an extension of my rental agreement for another six months. I rented an apartment in your complex a few months ago under a six-month agreement, and I would now like to continue living in the same apartment.

Initially, we were unsure how long we would stay in Calgary because my job was contract-based. However, my company has now offered me a permanent position, and I would like to continue working there to gain valuable international workplace experience. This is a great opportunity for me to develop my skills and build a career in my chosen field as an IT technician. Therefore, I would like to extend my tenancy for a further six months.

I have also encountered a few maintenance issues in the apartment over the past few months. There is a persistent leak from the kitchen sink tap, and the heating system occasionally does not work properly. The latter is particularly concerning as winter is approaching. I would therefore appreciate it if you could arrange for your regular plumber and technician to inspect and repair these issues.

I hope you understand my concerns and take appropriate action to resolve these problems as soon as possible. I would also be grateful if you could let me know the procedure for extending the rental agreement.

Yours faithfully,

Rahul

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 8.0

You have fully addressed all three bullet points in the prompt. You clearly stated the desired extension period, provided a logical and well-developed explanation for your change in plans (the permanent job offer), and described the maintenance issues effectively. The tone is appropriate for a formal letter to a landlord, and the purpose of the correspondence is clear from the outset. The ideas are well-supported, and the letter maintains a consistent focus on the task requirements throughout.

Coherence and Cohesion — Band 8.0

The letter is logically organized with a clear progression of ideas. Each paragraph focuses on a specific aspect of the request, which makes the structure easy to follow. You have used a variety of cohesive devices effectively, such as 'However,' 'Therefore,' and 'The latter,' which help to link your sentences and paragraphs smoothly. The paragraphing is logical and appropriate for a formal letter, ensuring that the reader can easily navigate your request and the associated issues.

Lexical Resource — Band 7.5

You demonstrate a good range of vocabulary that is well-suited to the context of a formal rental request. Phrases such as 'persistent leak,' 'maintenance issues,' and 'extend my tenancy' are precise and natural. You avoid repetition and use vocabulary that accurately conveys your meaning. While the vocabulary is functional and accurate, it could be slightly more sophisticated to reach the highest band, but it is certainly sufficient for a high-level performance in this task.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 8.0

Your writing displays a high level of grammatical control. You use a mix of simple and complex sentence structures, such as the conditional 'I would therefore appreciate it if you could...' and the use of relative clauses. There are virtually no grammatical errors, and your punctuation is accurate throughout. The sentences are well-constructed, and the flow is natural, which indicates a strong command of English grammar and syntax.

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

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