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 Shivangi,

I am writing to inform you that I want to extend the lease as I want to stay in this apartment for the next year. We have made the agreement for 6 months but I am planning to live here for the next 2 years most probably.

I was looking for a field job and recently, I got a job in my desired field. I am planning to sign the contract for 2 years and due to this reason I have decided to continue living here as this is the best location for easy commute. I just wanted to share one issue with you that I have been facing since few weeks. It is about the sink, there is a leakage of water from the pipeline near the kitchen sink. I tried various ways to stop it but i am not sure if it will work much longer. I hope you will arrange a plumber appointment soon.

I am hoping to get the new lease soon.

Regards,

Pan

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 7.0

The letter successfully addresses all three bullet points required by the prompt. You clearly state your intention to extend the lease, provide a logical explanation regarding your new job, and report the maintenance issue with the kitchen sink. The tone is appropriate for a formal request to a landlord. To reach a higher band, ensure that your future plans are consistent; you mention wanting to stay for 'the next year' in the opening, but then suggest '2 years' later in the text. Maintaining consistency in your details will improve the clarity of your communication.

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 use some cohesive devices, such as 'due to this reason' and 'as this is', to link your ideas. However, the transition between the request for the lease extension and the maintenance issue is slightly abrupt. Using more varied linking words or phrases to transition between topics would enhance the flow and make the letter feel more cohesive and professional.

Lexical Resource — Band 6.5

You demonstrate an adequate range of vocabulary for this task, using terms like 'extend the lease', 'desired field', and 'commute' correctly. There are some minor inaccuracies, such as 'made the agreement' (better: 'signed the agreement') and 'share one issue' (better: 'report a maintenance issue'). While the vocabulary is sufficient to convey your meaning clearly, it is somewhat functional. Incorporating more precise collocations and slightly more sophisticated phrasing would help elevate your score in this criterion.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 6.5

You use a mix of simple and complex sentence structures, which is appropriate for this level. Most of your sentences are clear and easy to understand. There are a few grammatical slips, such as 'since few weeks' (should be 'for a few weeks') and the inconsistent use of 'i' instead of 'I'. Additionally, the sentence 'I am planning to live here for the next 2 years most probably' is slightly awkward in its word order. Focusing on proofreading for small errors and refining sentence structure will help you achieve a higher band.

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

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