Band 7.0 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 7.0 · Cambridge IELTS 19 · 2026-10-20

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 Mr. Mehta,

I am writing to request if you could extend my lease of the apartment because of my work commitment and I do not wish to leave this beautiful apartment.

Previously, we had an agreement of six-months now I would like it to be extended for six months more i.e. until March 2027. As you are aware that I was on a contract position at my workplace but I have been hired full-time now. I am comfortable living here and there is very convenient transportation to my workplace. So, my plans have changed to leave this place and would like to stay here for few more months.

I would like to mention regarding a small leak in the kitchen which needs immediate attention or else it would result in a significant damage. I would appreciate if you could visit the place and analyse the condition.

Please let me know your convenient time to visit and also write me back about the extension of rental agreement.

Thank you.

Yours sincerely,

Krupa

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response: Band 7.0

The letter addresses all three required points: you request an extension, explain that your work has become full-time, and report a kitchen leak. Your request is clear, and the reason is supported by practical details about being comfortable in the apartment and having convenient transport to work. The leak is also described as potentially serious, with a direct request for the owner to inspect it. To make the response more fully developed, clarify the intended rental period consistently: “six months more” and “until March 2027” may not align, depending on the current agreement dates. You could also specify when the leak began or how it is affecting the apartment. Overall, the purpose and position remain clear throughout.

Coherence and Cohesion: Band 7.0

The letter follows a clear, appropriate sequence: the opening states the purpose, the next paragraph explains the extension and changed work circumstances, and the following paragraph raises the maintenance issue. The closing then asks for a reply and a convenient inspection time, so the reader can follow the requests easily. Paragraphing is effective and the tone is suitably polite. Some links between ideas are less smooth, particularly “So, my plans have changed to leave this place,” which makes the relationship between the full-time job and the decision to stay slightly awkward. The opening sentence also combines the extension request and personal preference in a long chain. Separating these ideas and using clearer transitions would make the progression more natural and cohesive.

Lexical Resource: Band 6.5

You use a suitable range of vocabulary for a formal rental letter, including “extend my lease,” “contract position,” “full-time,” and “significant damage.” These choices communicate the main points clearly and show some awareness of formal style. However, a few expressions are not natural collocations or are imprecise: “request if you could” and “mention regarding” are awkward, while “analyse the condition” is less idiomatic for asking a landlord to inspect a leak. “Beautiful apartment” is understandable but less relevant to the practical request. Aim for more precise, conventional phrasing, such as “ask whether you would consider extending my lease” and “inspect the leak.” This would improve fluency and collocational control.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy: Band 6.5

The response includes both simple and more complex sentence forms, and the meaning is generally clear. For example, “As you are aware that I was on a contract position at my workplace but I have been hired full-time now” attempts to connect past and present circumstances, while the request and closing sentences are easy to understand. Some grammatical errors remain, including the unnecessary “that” after “As you are aware,” the plural form in “six-months,” and the construction “plans have changed to leave.” The opening sentence also joins several clauses without clear punctuation, and “I would appreciate if” needs “it” after “appreciate.” Review clause structure, articles, and punctuation, and divide longer sentences where needed. More consistent control would make the varied structures more accurate.

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