Band 7.0 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 7.0 · Cambridge IELTS 19 · 2026-10-16

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/Madam,

I am writing this letter to request an extension to my rental agreement and I also want to address an important issue that I am facing while living here.

According to our previous agreement I am supposed to leave the apartment by the end of the next month, but now I would like to increase my stay for six more months if possible.

Last week, my company has increased my job contract for the duration of 6 months, that is until April 2027 and due to this I have canceled my plan of moving to Vancouver. Because of these sudden changes in plans, I wish to stay more in this apartment.

I want to inform you about the water leakage from the kitchen tap that I have noticed recently. Last night when I came from work, the whole kitchen was flooded with the water. So, I would really appreciate if you can call a plumber to get it fixed.

I hope to hear from you soon.

Kind regards,

Anmol

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response: Band 7.0

The letter clearly covers all three required points: you request a further six months, explain that your company extended your contract and that you cancelled your move to Vancouver, and report the leaking kitchen tap. The purpose is clear from the opening, and the request for the owner to arrange a plumber gives the problem a practical next step. Your explanation is relevant and supported, although the timing could be made more precise: “by the end of the next month” and “until April 2027” may leave the owner unsure about the exact dates of the extension. State the proposed start and end dates explicitly, and briefly clarify why the leak caused the kitchen to flood, to make the details more fully developed and precise.

Coherence and Cohesion: Band 7.0

The information follows a clear, logical order: you introduce the purpose, make the extension request, explain the change in your plans, and then raise the maintenance issue. Paragraphing helps the reader distinguish these points, while links such as “but now,” “due to this,” and “So” show how the ideas relate. The letter also has an appropriate opening and closing. Some connections are slightly repetitive or could be smoother: “due to this” and “Because of these sudden changes in plans” repeat the same causal link. You could combine the explanation into one more concise sequence and use a clearer transition before the repair request. Overall, progression is easy to follow, with only minor opportunities to make cohesion less noticeable.

Lexical Resource: Band 6.5

You use a sufficient range of vocabulary to handle the rental request and repair issue, including “extension,” “rental agreement,” “increased my job contract,” and “water leakage.” The meaning remains clear throughout, and phrases such as “I would really appreciate” help maintain a polite tone. Some choices are understandable but not fully natural or precise: “increase my stay” is less idiomatic than “extend my stay,” and “increased my job contract” does not clearly express that the contract was extended. “The whole kitchen was flooded with the water” is also awkwardly phrased. More accurate collocations and a little greater variety in describing the problem would show stronger control and flexibility.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy: Band 7.0

The letter includes a useful mix of simple and complex sentences, such as the sentence explaining the contract extension and the reason for cancelling your move. Many sentences are clear and well controlled, and punctuation generally supports the meaning. A few grammatical choices need attention. In “Last week, my company has increased my job contract,” the past-time marker calls for a past-tense form, and “I would really appreciate if you can call” needs a more suitable conditional construction, such as “I would appreciate it if you could call.” The phrase “According to our previous agreement I am supposed to leave” would also benefit from a comma after the introductory phrase. These are limited issues, but correcting them would make the otherwise clear structures more consistently accurate.

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