General Training Writing Task 1 · formal · request

Requesting a two-year rental contract extension

You have been living in a rented apartment for the last two years. Your rental agreement will expire in two months, but you want to extend it for another two years.

Write a letter to the agency. In your letter:

introduce yourself
say why you want to extend the contract
mention what changes you would recommend in the contract

Write at least 150 words. You do not need to write any addresses. Begin your letter: Dear ...,

Band 8 sample letter

Dear Mr. Henderson,

I am writing to formally request an extension of my tenancy at 14 Oakwood Terrace, where I have resided for the past two years. My current lease is due to expire in two months, and I would very much like to renew it for a further two-year term.

I have thoroughly enjoyed living here; the location is ideal for my commute, and I have always ensured that the property is well-maintained and that rent payments are made punctually. Given my desire for long-term stability, extending the lease would be a mutually beneficial arrangement.

Regarding the contract terms, I would like to propose two adjustments. Firstly, I request that the annual rent increase be capped at two percent to align with current market trends. Secondly, I suggest including a clause that allows for minor interior redecoration, provided that the walls are returned to their original colour upon vacating the premises.

I hope you will consider these recommendations favourably. I am available to discuss this further at your earliest convenience and look forward to receiving your response.

Yours sincerely,

Julian Thorne

182 words. Names and details are invented; write your own.

Why this scores well

This response achieves Band 8 by addressing all bullet points with sophisticated, natural language and a consistent formal tone. A common Band 6 mistake is failing to propose specific, reasonable contract changes, instead offering only vague requests for a renewal.

Write to an organisation or someone you do not know: open with Dear Sir or Madam, close with Yours faithfully.
If you know the person's surname, use Dear Mr or Ms and close with Yours sincerely.
No contractions, no slang; polite indirect requests such as I would be grateful if you could.

Useful phrases from the letter

resided: lived in a place for a period of time
punctually: at the agreed time without being late
mutually beneficial: resulting in advantages for both involved parties
capped: a limit placed on an amount or price
vacating: leaving a building or room permanently
favourably: showing approval or a positive attitude towards something

Write your own and get a band

Answer this prompt in a timed General Training writing test and get a band for task achievement, coherence, vocabulary and grammar, with the sentences to fix.

Practise IELTS General writing

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Frequently asked questions

Is this letter formal or informal?

Formal. Write to an organisation or someone you do not know: open with Dear Sir or Madam, close with Yours faithfully.

How long should an IELTS General Training letter be?

At least 150 words, and 160 to 200 is the comfortable range. Spend about 20 minutes on it and leave 40 for Task 2, which carries twice the marks.