Band 8.0 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 8.0 · Cambridge IELTS 16 · 2026-08-20

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 8.0)

Dear John,

I am delighted to hear that you have been offered a place on the course at my previous university. Congratulations! I remember how exciting it was to move there, although finding a suitable place was one of the challenges that I faced.

When I was a student, I lived in shared house which was ten minutes' walk from the university. I had my own bedroom, but kitchen and washroom was shared with three other students. It was reasonably priced and more importantly, it was close to the campus, shops and public transport. Living with other students was also great way to make friends and feel part of university life.

In my opinion, the best way to find accommodation is to start looking as early as possible. I would recommend checking the university's accommodation service and student housing groups online. You can also join students social media groups, where students often advertise rooms in shared houses or flats. Before making a decision, however, try to arrange a viewing and speak to the current tenants if possible.

There are few mistakes that you should avoid. Some students simply choose a place because its cheap, without considering how far it is from campus or whether transport is reliable. Others fail to check what is included in the rent, such as electricity, heating and internet. You should also carefully read the tenancy agreement and check the condition of the property before signing anything. Finally, never transfer money before you have verified that the accommodation and landlord are genuine.

I hope you find a comfortable place quickly. Let me know if you need any more advice.

Best wishes,

Khushboo

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 8.0

The response fully addresses all three bullet points in the prompt. You provided a clear description of your previous living situation, offered practical advice on how to search for accommodation, and included a comprehensive list of warnings regarding common mistakes. The tone is appropriate for an email to a friend, and the ideas are well-developed and relevant. You have successfully maintained a consistent, helpful persona throughout the letter, and the structure is logical and easy to follow. All parts of the task are covered thoroughly, meeting the requirements for a high band score.

Coherence and Cohesion — Band 8.0

The email is well-organized with a clear progression of ideas. Each paragraph focuses on a specific aspect of the prompt, which helps the reader follow your advice easily. You use a range of cohesive devices effectively, such as 'although', 'more importantly', 'however', and 'finally', to link your sentences and paragraphs. The paragraphing is logical and contributes to the overall flow of the text. The use of referencing is clear, and the transition between the different sections of the email is smooth and natural.

Lexical Resource — Band 7.5

You demonstrate a good range of vocabulary appropriate for the context of finding accommodation. Phrases like 'tenancy agreement', 'verified', 'genuine', and 'reasonably priced' are used accurately. There is a natural flow to your language, and you avoid repetitive phrasing. While the vocabulary is functional and precise, there is room to incorporate slightly more sophisticated or idiomatic expressions to reach the highest band. However, the current level is more than sufficient for the task, and your word choices are consistently accurate and contextually appropriate.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 7.5

You use a variety of complex sentence structures effectively, such as conditional clauses ('if possible') and relative clauses ('which was ten minutes' walk'). The majority of your sentences are error-free. There are a few minor slips, such as 'lived in shared house' (should be 'a shared house') and 'kitchen and washroom was shared' (should be 'were shared'). These are non-systematic errors that do not impede communication. Your control of punctuation and tense is generally strong, and the overall grammatical quality is high.

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

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