Band 7.0 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 7.0 · 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 7.0)

Dear Sir,

I am writing to extend the lease of my unit number 205 in your apartment “The Balmore”.

Firstly, I would like to thank you for your support during our initial contract we signed last month. Since my stay in Brampton is temporary, we agreed a six month lease. However, now I would like to extend the agreement to one year till 1 September 2027.

Although I am staying in the Brampton for business purposes, the company want me to cover another project here simultaneously, which would be completed in August 2027. The location of my new site is solely 4km away from this apartment. Thus, I would be more convenient for me to travel from my current location.

My current unit is quite spacious, equipped with modern kitchen, and regular supply of water, yet the wall paint is quite dull which requires repair. I would really appreciate if you could arrange the repair of my unit. I request you to please provide me an appointment so we can extend the terms of our agreement.

I will look forward to your prompt response.

Yours sincerely,

Kamal

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 7.0

You have successfully addressed all three bullet points in the prompt. You clearly stated the desired extension period, provided a logical reason for the change in plans (a new project), and identified a specific maintenance issue (dull wall paint). The tone is appropriate for a formal letter 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 details provided are entirely consistent; for instance, you mentioned a six-month agreement was signed 'last month', but the prompt states you started renting 'five months ago'. Maintaining internal consistency is key to a fully developed response.

Coherence and Cohesion — Band 7.0

The letter is logically organized with a clear introduction, body paragraphs, and a closing. You use transition signals such as 'Firstly', 'However', 'Although', and 'Thus' to guide the reader through your ideas. Paragraphing is used effectively to separate the request for extension from the maintenance issue. The progression of ideas is smooth and easy to follow. To improve, ensure that referencing is precise; for example, in the sentence 'Thus, I would be more convenient', the pronoun 'I' is used incorrectly, as the situation is convenient for you, not you yourself being convenient.

Lexical Resource — Band 6.5

You demonstrate an adequate range of vocabulary for the task, using terms like 'extend the lease', 'simultaneously', and 'spacious'. There are some minor collocation issues, such as 'solely 4km away' (which should be 'only 4km away') and 'the company want me' (which should be 'the company wants me'). While the vocabulary is sufficient to convey your message clearly, incorporating more precise collocations or slightly more sophisticated phrasing would elevate the score. Overall, the language is functional and appropriate for a formal business-related request.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 6.5

You use a mix of simple and complex sentence structures, such as the use of 'Although' and 'which' clauses. There are some grammatical slips, such as 'agreed a six month lease' (missing 'on'), 'the company want' (subject-verb agreement), and 'I would be more convenient' (incorrect adjective usage). Despite these errors, the meaning is never obscured, and the communication remains effective. To improve, focus on subject-verb agreement and the correct use of adjectives to describe situations versus people. The punctuation is generally accurate and supports the flow of the letter.

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

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