Band 6.0 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer
Overall Band Score: 6.0 · Cambridge IELTS 16 · 2026-08-16
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 Dhruv
Hope you are doing well
I am writing this email to congratulate you on your university admission. However, I am very happy that you are coming to Vancouver to study at UCW .
Although the university provides the housing but it is very expensive and only available for one month . However, I will advise you to find an apartment or room close to Westminster as it is only 25 minutes drive from university and this area is more affordable.
Therefore, I can share some websites where you can easily find place to accommodate as well as you can compare different places also. Additionally, There are few things I want you to be careful for as I did these few mistakes . For instance, never pay money for unit which you haven't visited or make sure you have rental agreement as it is very important for your safety .
Moreover, I am available on this weekend and I can help you to find a suitable unit for yourself . Looking forward to seeing you .
Yours truly
Ritika
AI examiner evaluation
| Criterion | Band |
|---|---|
| Task Achievement / Task Response | 6.0 |
| Coherence and Cohesion | 6.5 |
| Lexical Resource | 6.0 |
| Grammatical Range and Accuracy | 6.0 |
| Overall | 6.0 |
Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 6.0
The response addresses all three bullet points of the task. You successfully describe your experience, recommend a method for finding housing, and provide warnings about common mistakes. The tone is appropriate for a letter to a friend. However, the development of ideas is somewhat limited. For example, when describing where you lived, you mention the university housing but do not provide specific details about your own past living situation, which was a requirement of the prompt. To improve, ensure each bullet point is fully expanded with personal context or specific details to demonstrate a more thorough engagement with the task requirements.
Coherence and Cohesion — Band 6.5
The email is organized into logical paragraphs, and the progression of ideas is generally clear. You use some cohesive devices such as 'However', 'Therefore', and 'Additionally' to link your thoughts. However, the use of these devices is sometimes mechanical or slightly misused, such as starting two consecutive sentences with 'However' in the second paragraph. The referencing is generally clear, but the flow between sentences could be improved by using a wider variety of linking words and ensuring that the transition between your personal experience and your advice is smoother. Paragraphing is present and appropriate for an informal email.
Lexical Resource — Band 6.0
You demonstrate an adequate range of vocabulary for the task, using terms like 'admission', 'affordable', and 'rental agreement'. There are some minor issues with word choice and collocation, such as 'find place to accommodate' (should be 'find a place to live') and 'I will advise you' (should be 'I would advise you'). While the vocabulary is sufficient to convey your meaning clearly, it lacks the flexibility and precision required for a higher band. To improve, focus on using more natural collocations and avoiding repetitive phrasing when discussing housing options.
Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 6.0
You use a mix of simple and complex sentence structures. There are several grammatical errors, such as 'the university provides the housing' (unnecessary article), 'I am available on this weekend' (incorrect preposition), and 'I did these few mistakes' (should be 'I made these mistakes'). Punctuation is generally functional, though there are some spacing issues before commas and periods. While these errors do not impede communication, they occur frequently enough to prevent a higher score. Focusing on subject-verb agreement and correct preposition usage will help improve your accuracy.
See this exact question answered at other band scores — the same prompt compared across bands.
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