Band 5.0 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 5.0 · Cambridge IELTS 16 · 2026-11-11

IELTS Writing Task 1 question

Your friend has been offered a place on a course at the university where you studied. He/She would like your advice about finding a place to live.

Write an email to your friend. In your email

• describe where you lived when you were a student at the university
• recommend the best way for him/her to look for accommodation
• warn him/her of mistakes students make when choosing accommodation

You do NOT need to write any addresses.

Begin your email as follows:

Dear ..........,

Student answer (Band 5.0)

Dear Sara,

I Hope you are doing well, I am writing this email in response of your letter.

Firstly i am glad to know that you got admission in same course which i get in my university, it is really impressive that you received an admission in such a competative feild.

furthermore, you have asked for a place to stay so if you are comfortable you can live at my grandmother house as an tenant because she usually give her space on rent now to overcome her loneliness and you would be a great choice.

I also lived there during my university period,as her house is near the university and is sa nice cosy place with all the facilities and bus stop just next to it and all the basic grocery and stationary shops as well,secondly you would be safe and secure there having a sense of home as well.

lastly i don't want you to make any mistake regarding house hunting or going for any wrong place as it would effect your studies as well and i know how much efforts you have been gone through in life

looking forward to hear you, give my love to aunty and uncle

lots of love,

filza

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response: Band 4.5

You address the situation and describe your own accommodation: your grandmother’s house is near the university, has facilities and nearby shops, and you felt safe there. Offering Sara a room is a relevant, personal recommendation. However, the task also asks how she should look for accommodation and what mistakes to avoid. These points are only touched on vaguely: “house hunting” is mentioned, but you do not explain a practical search method or identify specific mistakes, such as paying before viewing a room or overlooking transport costs. As a result, the response only partially fulfils the requested advice. Develop each bullet point explicitly, with one or two concrete suggestions, while keeping the friendly tone.

Coherence and Cohesion: Band 5.5

The email has a recognisable sequence: you respond to Sara’s news, discuss accommodation, and close with a personal sign-off. This gives the reader a basic sense of organisation. However, most of the information is crowded into long, loosely connected sentences, particularly the description of your grandmother’s house. Connectors such as “Firstly,” “furthermore,” “secondly,” and “lastly” are used mechanically, and some do not clearly mark a new point. The warning about choosing accommodation also runs directly into a personal comment about Sara’s efforts. Use separate paragraphs for your experience, search advice, and warnings, and make the links between ideas more precise.

Lexical Resource: Band 5.5

You use some relevant vocabulary for the topic, including “near the university,” “facilities,” “bus stop,” and “safe and secure.” These details help communicate why the house could suit Sara. There is also an attempt at a warm, informal register through phrases such as “lots of love.” However, several word choices and collocations are inaccurate or awkward, including “in response of your letter,” “got admission,” “a great choice,” and “overcome her loneliness.” Spelling and word-form errors such as “competative,” “feild,” and “stationary” also reduce control. Build a more precise range for accommodation advice, and check common collocations and spelling before submitting.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy: Band 5.0

You attempt to combine ideas using clauses and conjunctions, for example when explaining that the house is near the university and has nearby facilities. This shows some effort to move beyond short, simple sentences. However, complex sentences are often faulty or difficult to follow, and errors occur in verb forms, agreement, articles, and punctuation. Examples include “she usually give her space,” “as an tenant,” and “how much efforts you have been gone through.” The opening also joins separate sentences with commas, while capitalisation is inconsistent. Aim for shorter, controlled sentences first, then add subordinate clauses; check subject–verb agreement, article use, and sentence boundaries.

See this exact question answered at other band scores. The same prompt compared across bands.

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