Band 5.5 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer
Overall Band Score: 5.5 · Cambridge IELTS 16 · 2026-08-18
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 5.5)
Dear Raman,
Here, I am writing this letter to inform you about my routine of students life in Canada also I thank you to offer business course which i choose and it is great course in the university. One more things I glad you like my advice which i gave you about the accommodation.
Firstly, I am study in University Canada West which is number one university in Vancouver and i like it and, I am living in the sharing apartment which university offer us and it price is to reasonable which is only 400 dollars each students who share the room with their classmate. Secondly, it is very close to university which save my time. Furthermore, my course is too easy which is about business and it help me in future to find about good job and i need to get 60 credits in this course which includes 6 semester so it is good choice for me.
I believe if you come to this university then i will recommend to this university who give a lot of opportunity to students related accommodation and jobs, But i give one advice that, please do not take a private room which many students make a mistake because to is too costly and you cannot save money if you choose this one because it costly and you can feel alone so this is my recommend to live in sharing room.
I hope you like my this advice which i share you, so we meet you soon.
Your Faithfully,
deep
AI examiner evaluation
| Criterion | Band |
|---|---|
| Task Achievement / Task Response | 5.5 |
| Coherence and Cohesion | 5.5 |
| Lexical Resource | 5.0 |
| Grammatical Range and Accuracy | 5.0 |
| Overall | 5.5 |
Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 5.5
The response addresses all three bullet points: describing past accommodation, recommending a search method, and warning against mistakes. However, the development is somewhat uneven. The description of your own accommodation is clear, but the advice regarding the 'best way' to look for housing is vague; you mention the university offers housing but do not explicitly explain the process of finding it. Additionally, the tone is inconsistent for a friendly email, as the opening paragraph is confusing and seems to misunderstand the prompt's premise (you are writing to a friend who has been offered a place, not informing them about your own routine). The ideas are relevant, but the focus drifts into irrelevant details about your course credits and job prospects.
Coherence and Cohesion — Band 5.5
The email is organized into paragraphs, which helps the reader follow the structure. However, the use of cohesive devices is often mechanical or inaccurate. For example, 'Here, I am writing this letter' is an unnatural opening, and the transition 'One more things' contains a grammatical error. The progression of ideas is sometimes disjointed, particularly in the first paragraph where the purpose of the email is unclear. While you use linking words like 'Firstly', 'Secondly', and 'Furthermore', they are sometimes used to connect ideas that do not logically follow one another. The referencing is occasionally confusing, making it difficult to track the flow of information.
Lexical Resource — Band 5.0
The vocabulary is limited and repetitive. You rely on basic terms like 'good', 'nice', and 'easy'. There are several instances of word-choice errors, such as 'it price is to reasonable' instead of 'the price is very reasonable' and 'my routine of students life' instead of 'my life as a student'. You also struggle with collocations; for instance, 'give one advice' should be 'give you a piece of advice'. While the meaning is generally conveyed, the lack of precision and the frequent errors in word formation and usage prevent a higher score. You need to expand your range to include more natural, idiomatic expressions suitable for an informal email.
Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 5.0
The response contains frequent grammatical errors that occasionally impede readability. There are consistent issues with subject-verb agreement ('I am study', 'university who give'), article usage ('the university', 'a sharing apartment'), and sentence structure. Many sentences are run-on or lack proper punctuation, such as 'I believe if you come to this university then i will recommend to this university who give a lot of opportunity'. The use of complex structures is attempted but often results in errors. While the basic meaning is usually clear, the high frequency of errors in basic grammar indicates a need for significant improvement in sentence construction and proofreading.
See this exact question answered at other band scores — the same prompt compared across bands.
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