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 an extension of the lease by 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 have a signed contract of six months, I would like to convert it to 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 is 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 the dishwasher machine as it will be out of order in the 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

Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 8.0

The letter successfully addresses all three bullet points of the prompt. You clearly state the desired extension period, provide a logical reason for the change (the arrival of a new baby), and identify specific maintenance issues (water leakage and the dishwasher). The tone is appropriate for a formal request to a landlord. The ideas are well-developed and the purpose of the letter is clear from the outset. To reach a higher band, ensure that the transition between the request for an extension and the maintenance issues is slightly more seamless, as the current shift feels a bit abrupt.

Coherence and Cohesion — Band 7.5

The letter is logically organized with a clear introduction, body paragraphs, and a closing. Each paragraph focuses on a distinct aspect of the task, which helps the reader follow your argument. You use cohesive devices such as 'Furthermore', 'As we already have', and 'However' to link your ideas effectively. The progression of information is smooth. To improve, ensure that the referencing is precise; for instance, in the second paragraph, 'accessibility of things' is a bit vague. Overall, the paragraphing is used appropriately and contributes to the clarity of the message.

Lexical Resource — Band 7.0

You demonstrate a sufficient range of vocabulary to convey your message with precision. Phrases like 'request an extension of the lease', 'situated at the heart of the city', and 'warranty expiry' are used correctly and appropriately for the context. There are no significant errors in word choice that impede communication. While the vocabulary is functional and accurate, incorporating a few more sophisticated collocations or idiomatic expressions related to property management could elevate the response to a higher band level.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 7.5

The letter displays a good mix of simple and complex sentence structures. Most sentences are error-free, and your control over tense usage is generally strong. There are minor slips, such as 'it will be out of order in the two months', which is slightly awkward phrasing; 'it will likely break down within two months' would be more natural. Punctuation is generally accurate, and the formal tone is maintained throughout. The grammatical errors present are non-systematic and do not interfere with the reader's understanding of your requests.

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

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