Band 7.5 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 7.5 · Cambridge IELTS 19 · 2026-10-01

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 Sir,

I am writing to ask whether it would be possible to extend my current tenancy agreement, which is due to expire next month.

I would like to continue renting the apartment for another six months, as I have recently decided to remain in this city for a longer period. Initially, I had planned to move to another city after completing a temporary work assignment. However, my employer has now offered me a permanent position, so I no longer need to relocate.

I have been very satisfied with the apartment and have found it comfortable and convenient. However, there is one problem that I would like to bring to your attention. The water pressure in the bathroom has become quite low, particularly in the mornings, which makes showering difficult. I would be grateful if you could arrange for someone to inspect and repair the plumbing.

Apart from this issue, I have had a very positive experience living here and have always paid my rent on time. I hope you will consider extending my tenancy for a further six months.

I look forward to hearing from you.

Yours faithfully,

GOURAV

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response: Band 8.0

The response covers all parts of the prompt exceptionally well and is well-suited to the requested task type. You successfully state how long you wish to rent the apartment for by writing, 'I would like to continue renting the apartment for another six months'. You also explain your changing plans clearly by mentioning your transition from a temporary work assignment to a permanent position offered by your employer. Furthermore, you effectively inform the owner about a problem, describing the low water pressure in the bathroom in the mornings. All bullet points are fully expanded and supported with appropriate details, maintaining an appropriate tone and format throughout the letter without any omissions or irrelevant digressions.

Coherence and Cohesion: Band 7.5

Your letter demonstrates a clear logical organisation and progression from beginning to end. Ideas are logically sequenced, moving smoothly from the initial request to extend the tenancy, to the explanation of changed plans, and finally to the maintenance issue in the bathroom. Paragraphing is used sufficiently and appropriately, with each paragraph serving a distinct function in the structure of a formal request letter. You make good use of cohesive devices such as 'Initially', 'However', and 'Apart from this issue', which guide the reader seamlessly through the text without any mechanical feel or awkward referencing.

Lexical Resource: Band 7.0

You use a sufficient and appropriate range of vocabulary for this type of task, demonstrating good control over style and collocation. Phrases like 'extend my current tenancy agreement', 'temporary work assignment', and 'bring to your attention' show an effective command of functional language suited to formal correspondence. There are occasional attempts at less common vocabulary items which are handled well. Word choice is generally precise, and spelling is accurate throughout, though achieving a higher band would require an even wider range of sophisticated, idiomatic phrasing and less reliance on standard formal formulas.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy: Band 8.0

Your grammatical control is a major strength in this response. The majority of sentences are completely error-free, and you successfully employ a wide range of complex structures, such as conditional clauses and relative clauses in sentences like 'I am writing to ask whether it would be possible to extend my current tenancy agreement, which is due to expire next month.' Verb forms and tenses are handled accurately, from the present perfect ('I have been very satisfied') to modal verbs ('I would be grateful'). Punctuation and article usage are also well-managed, demonstrating a high level of grammatical accuracy throughout the letter.

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