Band 7.5 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer
Overall Band Score: 7.5 · Cambridge IELTS 19 · 2026-09-09
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 7.5)
Dear Mrs. Anderson,
I hope you're well. I am writing this to request you to extend the lease of six months due to changes we expect in our family as well as the safety and the convenience we feel at this apartment. Furthermore, I would like to discuss a few problems which you may address with possible solutions.
As we already had a signed contract of six months, I would like to convert it a full year lease from the following month. The reasons behind proposing these changes are simply about family and comfort that we get here. Firstly, we are expecting a baby girl next month so it wouldn't be possible to change apartments without assistance. Moreover, the apartment is situated at the heart of the city and very convenient in terms of accessibility of things nearby as well as interior and maintenance services we get from you.
However, despite everything being perfect in this apartment, we still face water leakage issues from the roof area in the master bedroom which I would request you to fix as soon as possible. Along with that, I would also suggest replacing a dishwasher machine as it will be out of order in next two months due to warranty expiry.
I hope you will address these requests carefully and I am looking forward to hearing from you. Have a great day!
Yours sincerely,
Viral Siddhapura
AI examiner evaluation
| Criterion | Band |
|---|---|
| Task Achievement / Task Response | 8.0 |
| Coherence and Cohesion | 8.0 |
| Lexical Resource | 7.0 |
| Grammatical Range and Accuracy | 7.0 |
| Overall | 7.5 |
Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 8.0
The response covers all three bullet points effectively. You clearly state the desired extension period, provide a logical reason for the change (the upcoming birth of a child), and identify specific maintenance issues (water leakage and the dishwasher). The tone is appropriate for a formal letter to a landlord. The purpose of the letter is clear from the outset, and the ideas are well-developed and relevant to the task requirements. You have successfully maintained a consistent and professional tone throughout the correspondence.
Coherence and Cohesion — Band 8.0
The letter is well-organized with a clear introduction, body paragraphs, and a polite closing. Each paragraph focuses on a specific aspect of the prompt, which aids readability. You use a range of cohesive devices such as 'Furthermore', 'As we already had', 'Moreover', and 'However' to link your ideas. The progression of information is logical, moving from the request to the justification and finally to the maintenance issues. The paragraphing is appropriate and contributes to the overall clarity of the message.
Lexical Resource — Band 7.0
You demonstrate a good range of vocabulary suitable for a formal request. Phrases like 'extend the lease', 'accessibility of things', and 'maintenance services' are used accurately. While the vocabulary is generally precise, there are minor instances where phrasing could be more natural, such as 'accessibility of things nearby' (which could be 'local amenities') or 'it will be out of order' (which is slightly awkward). However, these minor issues do not impede communication, and the overall lexical range is sufficient to convey your meaning with precision.
Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 7.0
You use a mix of simple and complex sentence structures effectively. There are some minor grammatical slips, such as 'request you to extend the lease of six months' (should be 'by six months') and 'convert it a full year lease' (missing 'to'). Additionally, 'it will be out of order' is a slightly unnatural prediction; 'it is likely to break down' would be more accurate. Despite these occasional errors, the majority of your sentences are error-free, and your control over punctuation and sentence construction is strong enough to ensure the message is clear.
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