Band 7.5 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 7.5 · Cambridge IELTS 16 · 2026-08-13

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 7.5)

Advice about accommodation

Dear Ali,

I’m really happy to hear that you have been offered a place at my old university. I’m sure you will enjoy your time there.

When I was a student, I lived in a shared house with three other students. It was quite close to the university, so I could easily walk to my classes. The rent was also reasonable, and sharing the house helped me make good friends.

I would recommend looking for accommodation through the university’s student accommodation office or reliable student websites. They can help you find a suitable place and avoid unreliable landlords. It is also a good idea to visit the property before making any decision.

One common mistake students make is choosing a place only because the rent is cheap. You should also check the distance from the university, transport facilities, bills and the condition of the property. Another mistake is signing a contract without reading it carefully.

I hope this advice helps. Good luck with your new life at university!

Best wishes,

Ahmed

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 7.5

You have fully addressed all three bullet points in the prompt. You described your past living situation, provided a clear recommendation for finding accommodation, and offered relevant warnings regarding common student mistakes. The tone is appropriate for a letter to a friend, and the purpose of the email is clear from the outset. The ideas are well-developed and directly relevant to the task requirements, demonstrating a strong grasp of the communicative goal.

Coherence and Cohesion — Band 7.5

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 have used appropriate cohesive devices such as 'When I was a student', 'It is also a good idea', and 'Another mistake is', which help to link your sentences and paragraphs smoothly. The use of paragraphing is effective and contributes to the overall clarity of the message.

Lexical Resource — Band 6.5

You have used a sufficient range of vocabulary to convey your message clearly and naturally. Phrases like 'reasonable rent', 'unreliable landlords', and 'transport facilities' are well-chosen and appropriate for the context. While the vocabulary is functional and accurate, it is generally standard. To reach a higher band, you could incorporate more precise or sophisticated collocations, but the current range is more than adequate for this task.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 7.5

Your grammar is accurate throughout the response. You have successfully used a mix of simple and complex sentence structures, such as 'It was quite close to the university, so I could easily walk to my classes.' There are no noticeable errors in punctuation or syntax, and the control over verb tenses is consistent. The writing is error-free, which demonstrates a high level of grammatical competence.

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

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