Band 6.5 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 6.5 · Cambridge IELTS 16 · 2026-08-10

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 John,

I am writing to suggest a place to live while studying at the university where I completed my Business Management course. Living in a King basement would be a suitable option for you, since it will not only be cost-friendly for you, but also provide privacy and a peaceful environment.

My experience in king basement was fabulous. The owner of this area was supportive and friendly. All the essential facilities were provided to live comfortably. The optimal method to find a basement is Facebook that can assist you to find place very quickly. Furthermore, there are a number of option you select a basement according to your budget. Being a learner, it is extremely important to have good money management skills.

Most of the students do not pay attention towards distance from University and they have to travel long distance for attending class, So you must careful about it. Moreover, you do not need to give information to others about the personal documents and items that where you have kept.

Best wishes,

David

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 6.5

You have addressed all three bullet points required by the task. You described your past living situation, recommended Facebook as a search tool, and provided warnings regarding commute distance and personal security. The tone is appropriate for an email to a friend. However, the development of ideas is somewhat limited; for instance, the warning about personal documents is a bit vague and could have been explained more clearly to be more helpful. Overall, the response is relevant and covers the requirements well, though further elaboration on the advice would have strengthened the response.

Coherence and Cohesion — Band 6.5

The email is logically organized with a clear introduction, body paragraphs, and a closing. You use some cohesive devices such as 'Furthermore', 'Moreover', and 'In addition' to link ideas. However, some transitions feel slightly mechanical, and the paragraphing could be improved for better flow. For example, the transition between the recommendation of Facebook and the advice on money management is a bit abrupt. The referencing is generally clear, and the progression of ideas is easy to follow throughout the email.

Lexical Resource — Band 6.0

You demonstrate an adequate range of vocabulary for the task, using terms like 'cost-friendly', 'optimal method', and 'supportive'. There are some minor inaccuracies in word choice, such as 'King basement' (which sounds like a specific proper noun rather than a general type of accommodation) and 'Being a learner' (where 'As a student' would be more natural). You also have a few minor collocation issues, such as 'pay attention towards distance'. While the vocabulary is sufficient to convey your meaning clearly, it lacks the sophistication and precision required for higher band scores.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 6.0

You use a mix of simple and complex sentence structures, which is appropriate for this task. However, there are several grammatical errors that occur throughout the text. Examples include 'there are a number of option you select' (should be 'options for you to select'), 'So you must careful about it' (missing the verb 'be'), and 'items that where you have kept' (awkward phrasing). While these errors do not impede communication, they are frequent enough to prevent a higher score. Focusing on subject-verb agreement and the correct use of auxiliary verbs will help improve your accuracy.

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

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