Band 6.5 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer
Overall Band Score: 6.5 · Cambridge IELTS 16 · 2026-08-03
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 6.5)
Dear Raman,
I hope you are doing well. I am writing to give advice about finding a place to live.
When I studied in the university, I lived on the bank road, which was very close to the university. It was only five-minute away from the university. The main reasons to select this place was the surroundings.
To find suitable accommodation, I recommend checking the university's official website and local Facebook pages. You can also ask the student services office for recommendations. Moreover, you can also find place by visiting nearby flats.
One mistake many students make is choosing cheapest place without checking the distance from the university or the available amenities. Because in winters it is very hard to arrive the university due to extreme weather condition such as snow and rain.
I hope my suggestions will help you. If you need any more information, feel free to contact me anytime.
Best wishes,
Gagan
AI examiner evaluation
| Criterion | Band |
|---|---|
| Task Achievement / Task Response | 7.0 |
| Coherence and Cohesion | 7.0 |
| Lexical Resource | 6.5 |
| Grammatical Range and Accuracy | 6.0 |
| Overall | 6.5 |
Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 7.0
The response successfully addresses all three bullet points required by the prompt. You clearly described your past living situation on Bank Road, provided practical recommendations like checking the university website and Facebook, and offered a relevant warning regarding the importance of proximity to campus during winter. The tone is appropriate for an email to a friend. To improve, you could expand slightly on the 'why' behind your recommendations or the warning to provide more depth, which would help in achieving a higher band score by fully developing your ideas rather than just stating them.
Coherence and Cohesion — Band 7.0
The email is logically organized with clear paragraphing. Each paragraph focuses on one of the required points, which helps the reader follow your advice easily. You use some cohesive devices such as 'Moreover' and 'One mistake', which assist in the flow of information. However, the transitions between sentences are sometimes a bit mechanical. To improve, try to vary your linking words and ensure that the connection between your sentences is more fluid. For example, instead of starting sentences with 'Because', you could integrate that clause into the previous sentence to improve the overall cohesion.
Lexical Resource — Band 6.5
You have used a sufficient range of vocabulary to convey your message clearly. Words like 'accommodation', 'amenities', and 'surroundings' are appropriate for the context. There are some minor issues with word choice, such as 'arrive the university' (should be 'arrive at') and 'choosing cheapest place' (missing an article). While the vocabulary is adequate for the task, it is somewhat basic. To reach a higher band, try to incorporate more precise collocations or slightly more sophisticated vocabulary, such as 'conveniently located' or 'essential facilities', to show a greater range and flexibility in your writing.
Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 6.0
The response contains a mix of simple and complex sentence structures. While the meaning is always clear, there are several grammatical errors, such as 'When I studied in the university' (should be 'at'), 'five-minute away' (should be 'five minutes away'), and 'arrive the university' (should be 'arrive at'). These errors are frequent enough to be noticeable but do not impede communication. To improve, focus on subject-verb agreement, correct preposition usage, and the proper use of articles. Increasing your control over these basic structures will help you achieve a higher band score.
See this exact question answered at other band scores — the same prompt compared across bands.
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