Band 7.0 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer
Overall Band Score: 7.0 · Cambridge IELTS 16 · 2026-08-08
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 7.0)
Dear Tim,
I hope this letter finds you in radiant health and best of spirits. I received your letter the day before yesterday. I am glad that you got an offer from the university for Artificial Intelligence course and you are looking for a suitable place to live. While studying I was living at Mark Street. It was right opposite to the university campus. There was also a shopping arcade in the vicinity.
The best way to look for accommodation will be to sign up for the students welfare programme. They usually have multiple posting for vacant places. Moreover, Facebook marketplace is also a viable option to explore.
We always wanted to study in the University of Saskatchewan, didn't we? I am really excited to hear that you also cleared the entrance examination. I would like to warn you for some of the mistakes students make while selecting accommodation. They go for cheaper places which are usually far from the university. However, they have to spend a considerable amount of money on travel.
Hoping to see you soon.
Yours lovingly,
Achin Pal
AI examiner evaluation
| Criterion | Band |
|---|---|
| Task Achievement / Task Response | 7.5 |
| Coherence and Cohesion | 7.0 |
| Lexical Resource | 7.0 |
| Grammatical Range and Accuracy | 6.5 |
| Overall | 7.0 |
Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 7.5
You have successfully addressed all three bullet points in the prompt. You described your previous living situation on Mark Street, recommended the student welfare programme and Facebook marketplace, and provided a relevant warning about the hidden costs of cheaper, distant accommodation. The tone is appropriate for a letter to a friend, and the purpose of the email is clear throughout. The ideas are well-developed and relevant to the task instructions. To reach a higher band, ensure that your advice is slightly more detailed; for example, you could have elaborated on why the welfare programme is particularly reliable compared to other sources.
Coherence and Cohesion — Band 7.0
The email is logically organized with a clear progression of ideas. Each paragraph focuses on a specific aspect of the prompt, which makes the letter easy to follow. You use some cohesive devices such as 'Moreover' and 'However' to link your thoughts. However, the transition between the second and third paragraphs is slightly abrupt, as you jump from accommodation advice to a personal anecdote about the university entrance exam. Improving the flow between these topics would enhance the overall coherence. Overall, the paragraphing is appropriate and the message is easy to navigate.
Lexical Resource — Band 7.0
You demonstrate a good range of vocabulary, using phrases like 'radiant health', 'shopping arcade', and 'viable option' effectively. The language is natural and fits the informal context of a letter to a friend. There are no significant errors in word choice that impede communication. To move into the higher bands, try to incorporate more precise collocations or slightly more sophisticated vocabulary to describe the accommodation features or the advice given. For instance, instead of 'multiple posting', 'a variety of listings' would sound more natural and precise.
Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 6.5
You use a mix of simple and complex sentence structures with generally good control. There are a few minor grammatical slips, such as 'warn you for some of the mistakes' (should be 'warn you about') and 'Artificial Intelligence course' (missing the article 'an'). Additionally, 'They usually have multiple posting' should be pluralized to 'postings'. Despite these occasional errors, your meaning is always clear, and the majority of your sentences are error-free. You have a solid grasp of tense usage, particularly when reflecting on your past experience as a student.
See this exact question answered at other band scores — the same prompt compared across bands.
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