Band 7.0 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 7.0 · Cambridge IELTS 19 · 2026-09-03

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'm writing this letter to discuss about the lease agreement I signed five months ago. I originally intended to stay in the apartment for six months but now I wish to extend my stay in this apartment.

I am currently thinking to extend our original agreement from 6 months to 18 months.

Furthermore, the biggest reason for this extended stay is the neighbourhood around this apartment. I recentely explored the nearby area and discovered a beautiful conservational area with long and maintained trail. Additionally, the convience this building provides is exceptional. Not only is it close to the shopping complex, but the grocery store next door is a cherry on cake.

Last but not the least, I would also like to mention about an issue I faced in the unit. There is a problem with the hot water supply as the hot water is only available during the morning time which I felt is very frustrating.

I hope you will look after this matter and hoping a quick reply from your side.

Yours faithfully,

Hirdey

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 7.5

You have successfully addressed all three bullet points required by the prompt. You clearly stated the desired extension period (18 months), provided a logical explanation for your change in plans (the neighbourhood and amenities), and identified the specific problem with the hot water supply. The tone is appropriate for a formal letter to a landlord. To reach a higher band, ensure that your explanation of the apartment problem is slightly more detailed, perhaps by suggesting a specific time for a repair visit, which would further develop the task requirements.

Coherence and Cohesion — Band 7.0

The letter is logically organised with a clear progression of ideas. You have used a variety of cohesive devices such as 'Furthermore', 'Additionally', and 'Last but not the least' to connect your paragraphs and sentences. The paragraphing is appropriate for a formal letter. However, the transition between the positive aspects of the apartment and the complaint about the hot water is a bit abrupt. Using a more sophisticated linking phrase to introduce the problem would improve the flow and coherence of the text.

Lexical Resource — Band 6.5

You demonstrate a sufficient range of vocabulary to convey your message clearly. Phrases like 'exceptional' and 'convenience' are used effectively. There are some minor issues with word choice and collocation, such as 'discuss about' (the verb 'discuss' does not take 'about') and 'conservational area' (which should be 'conservation area'). Additionally, 'cherry on cake' is a slightly misused idiom; the correct form is 'the icing on the cake'. Despite these small errors, your meaning is always clear, and you show an attempt to use more varied language.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 6.0

You use a mix of simple and complex sentence structures. While your meaning is generally clear, there are several grammatical slips. For example, 'I am currently thinking to extend' should be 'I am currently thinking of extending', and 'I recentely explored' contains a spelling error. There is also a tense inconsistency in the final paragraph: 'I hope you will look after this matter and hoping a quick reply' should be 'and I hope for a quick reply'. These errors do not impede communication, but they prevent a higher score.

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

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