Band 7.0 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 7.0 · Cambridge IELTS 19 · 2026-10-22

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 Smith,

I am writing this letter to request for the extension to stay at your house after the agreed six months. I would love to extend my current stay with an additional of fourteen months. I am willing to pay an extra fee if it is possible.

Recently, my work contract has been extended with another fourteen months.I would appreciate if I continue staying at your place since it is closer to my workplace. This will help me reduce the cost of living because there is no need for me to buy a car for transport to work. In addition I like your house because it is located in a quite suburb and it is close to anemities where I normally get my groceries.

Lastly, I have a problem with the shower which is not closing well after use. This problem has been going on for the past two months. I am kindly requesting you to send a technician to check or fix it.

Your assistance on my request would be greatly appreciated.

Kind regards,

Ruth

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response: Band 8.0

The letter covers all three required points clearly: you request a further fourteen months, explain that your work contract has been extended and that the apartment is convenient, and report a shower problem that needs attention. The reasons for staying are relevant and supported with practical details, such as avoiding the cost of buying a car and being near grocery shops. The repair request is also specific about the fault and how long it has continued. To make the response even more complete, clarify whether the fourteen-month extension would begin immediately after the original agreement ends, and state a preferred time for the owner to arrange the repair. Overall, the purpose and requests are well developed.

Coherence and Cohesion: Band 7.5

The letter is organised in a clear sequence: the opening requests an extension, the next paragraph explains the changed plans, and the final body paragraph raises the maintenance issue. This makes the message easy to follow, and the closing is appropriate for a letter to a landlord. Linking phrases such as “Recently,” “In addition,” and “Lastly” help signal the progression. To make the cohesion more polished, avoid relying on these explicit transitions for every shift; the paragraph structure already makes the topics clear. Also check spacing after full stops, as in “fourteen months.I would appreciate,” since this interrupts the otherwise smooth presentation.

Lexical Resource: Band 6.0

You use an adequate range of vocabulary for the situation, including “extension,” “work contract,” “cost of living,” and “technician.” These choices communicate the request and the repair issue clearly. There are, however, several inaccurate or awkward expressions that limit precision: “request for the extension,” “an additional of fourteen months,” and “a quite suburb.” The spelling of “amenities” is also incorrect, and “your house” is less precise than “your apartment” in this context. Aim for natural collocations and check spelling carefully; for example, use “request an extension,” “an additional fourteen months,” and “a quiet suburb.”

Grammatical Range and Accuracy: Band 6.5

The response includes a useful mix of simple and complex forms, including the reason clause “since it is closer to my workplace” and the relative clause “which is not closing well after use.” Most sentences communicate the intended meaning, and the shower problem is easy to understand. Some grammatical errors remain, particularly in patterns with infinitives and articles: “I would appreciate if I continue staying” needs a more complete construction, such as “I would appreciate it if I could continue staying,” while “I am writing this letter to request for” should be “to request.” There is also a missing space after the full stop in “months.I.” More consistent control of these structures and punctuation would strengthen accuracy.

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