IELTS General Writing Task 1: Letter to a Landlord (Band 9 Sample)
This General Training Task 1 asks for a semi-formal letter to a landlord covering three bullet points: introducing yourself, explaining what is wrong with the furniture, and stating the action you want taken. A band-9 letter addresses all three fully, holds a consistent polite-but-firm tone, and reads like a real letter rather than a template. The model below is about 185 words.
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1The task
You and your family are living in rented accommodation in an English-speaking country. You are not satisfied with the condition of some of the furniture. Write a letter to the landlord. In your letter, you should introduce yourself, explain what is wrong with the furniture and say what action you would like the landlord to take. Write at least 150 words.
2Band 9 sample answer
185 words · Band 9Dear Mr Thompson,
I am writing to you as the tenant who has been renting the flat at 24 Maple Court since the beginning of March. My family and I have settled in well and are grateful for how smoothly the move went.
I am contacting you, however, about the condition of some of the furniture that came with the property. The sofa in the living room has a broken frame and sags badly on one side, which makes it uncomfortable and unsafe for our children to sit on. In addition, two of the dining chairs are wobbly because their legs have come loose, and the mattress in the main bedroom is heavily stained and sunken in the middle.
I would be grateful if you could arrange for these items to be repaired or, where that is not practical, replaced. As the sofa poses a safety risk, I would appreciate it if this could be dealt with as a priority, ideally within the next two weeks.
Thank you for your attention to this matter. I look forward to hearing from you.
Yours sincerely, Raj Sharma
3Why this scores Band 9
1Task Achievement
All three bullet points are fully covered: the writer introduces themselves as the tenant (with a concrete detail — the address and move-in date), explains three specific furniture problems, and requests a clear action with a reasonable deadline. Nothing is left vague, which is what band 9 requires.
2Coherence & Cohesion
The letter follows a natural sequence — greeting, self-introduction, problem, request, sign-off — with one idea per paragraph. Linking is smooth and register-appropriate ("however", "In addition", "As the sofa poses a safety risk"), never a bolted-on list of connectors.
3Lexical Resource
Vocabulary fits the semi-formal register precisely: "settled in well", "poses a safety risk", "dealt with as a priority", "your attention to this matter". The phrasing sounds like a genuine, courteous letter rather than memorised chunks.
4Grammatical Range & Accuracy
A range of structures is used accurately: relative clauses ("the tenant who has been renting"), a conditional-style polite request ("I would be grateful if you could arrange"), and present perfect for the ongoing tenancy. The letter is error-free.
4Useful collocations for this task
Tap a phrase to see what it means and how to use it. Natural collocations like these lift your Lexical Resource score.
5Frequently asked questions
How should I open and close a semi-formal IELTS letter?
When you know the recipient’s name, use "Dear Mr/Ms [Surname]," and close with "Yours sincerely,". If the name is unknown, use "Dear Sir or Madam," and "Yours faithfully,". Keep the tone polite throughout.
How long should General Training Task 1 be?
At least 150 words. A band-9 letter is usually 170–200 words — enough to cover all three bullets fully without padding. This model is 185 words.
Do I have to cover every bullet point?
Yes. Missing or barely touching a bullet caps your Task Achievement score. Each of the three prompts should become its own developed paragraph.
Can I invent details like names and dates?
Absolutely — you are expected to. Inventing a specific address, move-in date and named problems makes the letter concrete and realistic, which strengthens Task Achievement.
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