Band 5.5 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer
Overall Band Score: 5.5 · Cambridge IELTS 16 · 2026-08-06
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 5.5)
Dear Arshpreet,
I am writing a letter to my friend about finding a place to live . I was studied at the University of Canada West and also I find a good place near my university a small apartment which I was lived with the one girl shared room and the amount was very reasonable it was about $400 , I am also recommend to choose that area it is more easier to reach the university.
Find that area which really come to the university as well as there are many markets are available for the convenience for daily life. Moreover I also recommend to find a very peaceful areas where you can easily do the study and focus on the study.
I also warn that try to not to the mistakes which i have did in past time such as , choose the apartment cleaned and good shared person as well as the good environment.
Your friend
Ritikaa
AI examiner evaluation
| Criterion | Band |
|---|---|
| Task Achievement / Task Response | 5.5 |
| Coherence and Cohesion | 6.0 |
| Lexical Resource | 5.5 |
| Grammatical Range and Accuracy | 5.0 |
| Overall | 5.5 |
Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 5.5
The response addresses all three bullet points of the task: describing past accommodation, recommending a search method, and providing a warning. However, the development of these ideas is quite limited. For instance, the advice on how to search is vague, and the warning about mistakes is difficult to follow due to grammatical inaccuracies. While the purpose of the email is clear, the content lacks the depth and detail required for a higher band score. The tone is generally appropriate for a letter to a friend, but the overall execution feels somewhat rushed and underdeveloped.
Coherence and Cohesion — Band 6.0
The email is organized into paragraphs, which helps the reader follow the structure. However, the use of cohesive devices is limited and sometimes mechanical. For example, the transition 'Moreover' is used, but other connections between sentences are weak or missing. The progression of ideas is occasionally disjointed, particularly in the final paragraph where the advice on avoiding mistakes is presented in a fragmented way. The referencing is sometimes unclear, making it necessary for the reader to re-read certain sections to grasp the intended meaning.
Lexical Resource — Band 5.5
The vocabulary is basic and repetitive, which limits the effectiveness of the communication. There are several instances of awkward phrasing, such as 'I was studied' and 'the good environment'. While the meaning is generally conveyed, the range of vocabulary is narrow and lacks the precision expected at higher levels. There is little evidence of less common lexical items or idiomatic language. To improve, you should focus on using more varied adjectives and verbs to describe your experiences and advice, rather than relying on simple, repetitive structures.
Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 5.0
There are frequent grammatical errors throughout the text that occasionally impede readability. Examples include 'I was studied' (instead of 'I studied'), 'I was lived' (instead of 'I lived'), and 'the mistakes which i have did' (instead of 'the mistakes I made'). The sentence structures are mostly simple, and attempts at more complex sentences often result in errors. Punctuation is also inconsistent, particularly with the use of commas and capitalization. A greater focus on verb tenses, subject-verb agreement, and sentence construction is necessary to improve your accuracy.
See this exact question answered at other band scores — the same prompt compared across bands.
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