Band 9.0 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 9.0 · Cambridge IELTS 19 · 2026-09-06

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 9.0)

Dear Mr. Smith,

I am writing to ask if it would be possible to extend my rental agreement for my apartment, which is due to end next month. I would like to stay in the apartment for an additional six months, rather than moving out at the end of the current agreement.

My plans have changed because I recently received confirmation that I will be working at my current job for at least another year. Since my workplace is close to the apartment, staying here would be much more convenient than finding another place and moving to a new neighbourhood. In addition, I have become very comfortable living here and would prefer to remain in the apartment.

However, there is one problem that I would like to bring to your attention. The heating system in the bedroom has not been working properly for the past few weeks. Although I have tried adjusting the thermostat, the room remains quite cold, particularly at night. I would appreciate it if you could arrange for someone to inspect and repair the heating system.

I hope you will consider extending my rental agreement. Please let me know if you require any further information or documents from me.

Yours sincerely,

Akshay Ahir

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 9.0

The response fully addresses all three bullet points required by the prompt. You clearly state the desired extension length (six months), provide a logical reason for the change in plans (job stability and convenience), and describe the specific maintenance issue (faulty heating). The tone is consistently 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, meeting all requirements of the task effectively.

Coherence and Cohesion — Band 9.0

The letter is logically organized with a clear progression of ideas. Each paragraph focuses on a specific aspect of the request, and the transition between the request for extension, the explanation, and the maintenance issue is smooth. You use cohesive devices such as 'In addition', 'However', and 'Although' effectively to link sentences and ideas. The paragraphing is appropriate, and the overall structure is coherent and easy to follow throughout the text.

Lexical Resource — Band 8.0

You demonstrate a good range of vocabulary suitable for a formal letter. Phrases such as 'extend my rental agreement', 'due to end', and 'bring to your attention' are natural and precise. The vocabulary is used accurately to convey your meaning without any noticeable errors. While the range is sufficient and appropriate for this task, incorporating a few more sophisticated collocations could further enhance the lexical variety, but the current level is already very strong and effective.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 9.0

The writing is highly accurate with a variety of sentence structures. You successfully use complex sentences, such as 'I am writing to ask if it would be possible to extend my rental agreement, which is due to end next month.' Punctuation is used correctly throughout, and there are no grammatical errors that impede communication. The control over verb tenses and modal verbs is excellent, reflecting a high level of grammatical competence.

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

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