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 Mr. James

I am writing to request the extension of my stay at your apartment. I understand that our original contract was for six months and is going to expire in the upcoming month. However, I would like to stay 3 more months till the end of this year at your wonderful place

Initially, my intension was to prepare and take my exam in the six months here and then move out but unfortunately I was unable to accomplish that as my wife fell ill. I had to take care of her and was not really focused on the exam. Gladly, she is recovering now so I am back on track. These 3 more months will give me some more time to get fully ready for my test and I don't want to waste them in the shifting from one place to onther. Also, we have had great 5 months here. We both are comfortable here as it is close to the main market and other facilities as well.

One small thing I would like to bring to your attention is that there is a small leak in water drain in the kitchen and we have to clean it up multiple times throughout the day. It would be a great favour if you could help us arrange a plumber.

I hope you would consider our request. Looking for a positive response.

Yours faithfully

Chris.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 7.5

You have successfully addressed all three bullet points in the prompt. You clearly stated the desired extension period, provided a logical explanation for the change in your plans regarding your wife's health, and identified a specific maintenance issue in the kitchen. The tone is appropriate for a formal letter to a landlord, and the purpose of the communication is clear from the outset. The ideas are well-developed and relevant to the task requirements, demonstrating a good understanding of the communicative goal.

Coherence and Cohesion — Band 7.5

The letter is logically organized with a clear progression of ideas. Each paragraph focuses on a specific aspect of the request, which makes the letter easy to follow. You have used a range of cohesive devices such as 'However', 'Initially', 'Also', and 'One small thing' to link your sentences and paragraphs effectively. The paragraphing is appropriate for a formal letter, and the overall structure is coherent. There is a natural flow between the request for an extension and the explanation provided.

Lexical Resource — Band 6.5

You demonstrate a sufficient range of vocabulary to convey your message clearly. Phrases like 'original contract', 'accomplish that', and 'bring to your attention' are used accurately. While the vocabulary is generally appropriate, there are minor spelling errors such as 'intension' (intention) and 'onther' (another). These do not impede communication, but they prevent the score from reaching the highest band. The use of 'wonderful place' and 'great favour' shows a good attempt at using natural, polite language suitable for this context.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 6.5

You use a mix of simple and complex sentence structures effectively. Most of your sentences are error-free, and the meaning is always clear. There are a few minor grammatical slips, such as 'the shifting from one place to onther' (should be 'moving') and 'a small leak in water drain' (should be 'the water drain'). However, these errors are infrequent and do not interfere with the reader's understanding. Your control over punctuation and sentence construction is generally strong, supporting a clear and professional tone throughout the letter.

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

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