Band 6.0 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 6.0 · Cambridge IELTS 16 · 2026-08-09

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 6.0)

Dear Amy

I hope you are doing great. I am extremely overwhelmed by the news that you gave me about your selection at the same university I have studied. I must tell, you will be having one of the best experience of your life studying in this renowned university.

However, as a student I have been living in multiple places so, I would like to give you some advice on choosing a good place so that you don’t make the mistake that I made. Firstly, do not go for lavishing apartments near your college instead go for a room in a townhouse far from city but accessible by bus because it will not only save you money but also save time by avoiding city traffic.

Secondly, make sure the house in closer to amenities like grocery stores, libraries and bus stops as it will be convenient as well as accessible to go.

I believe my advice will help you to get a good place to rent out. If any issue arises feel free to share.

Warm regards,

Annu

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 6.0

You have addressed all three bullet points of the task. You described your experience, recommended a strategy for finding housing, and provided a warning about common mistakes. However, the development of these points is somewhat thin. For instance, you mention living in 'multiple places' but do not provide a specific description of where you lived as a student, which was a key requirement. The advice is relevant, but the response could be improved by adding more specific details or personal anecdotes to fully flesh out the ideas. The tone is appropriate for a letter to a friend, maintaining a consistent informal register throughout.

Coherence and Cohesion — Band 6.5

The email is logically organized with a clear introduction and conclusion. You use basic cohesive devices such as 'Firstly' and 'Secondly' to sequence your advice, which helps the reader follow your points. However, the paragraphing is slightly underdeveloped; the body of the email could be better structured by separating the description of your past experience from the advice and warnings. Additionally, some transitions are a bit mechanical. Improving the flow between sentences by using a wider variety of linking words would enhance the overall coherence of the text.

Lexical Resource — Band 6.0

You demonstrate an adequate range of vocabulary for the task. Phrases like 'renowned university' and 'amenities' are used correctly. However, there are some inaccuracies in word choice and collocation. For example, 'lavishing apartments' is incorrect; 'luxurious' or 'expensive' would be more natural. Similarly, 'rent out' is used incorrectly here; you should use 'rent' or 'find accommodation'. While these errors do not impede communication, they indicate a need for more precise vocabulary usage to reach a higher band. Expanding your range of descriptive adjectives and phrasal verbs would be beneficial.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 6.0

You use a mix of simple and complex sentence structures, such as 'I am extremely overwhelmed by the news that you gave me'. There are several grammatical errors, such as 'same university I have studied' (should be 'same university where I studied') and 'the house in closer to' (should be 'the house is closer to'). Additionally, there are minor punctuation issues, such as missing commas after introductory phrases. While these errors are noticeable, they do not prevent the reader from understanding your message. To improve, focus on subject-verb agreement and the correct use of prepositions.

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

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