Band 7.0 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 7.0 · Cambridge IELTS 16 · 2026-08-27

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 7.0)

Dear Jim,

First of all, I would like to congratulate you on getting admitted into one of the most prestigious universities. I am sure that you will have an amazing time there.

There are plenty of hostels near the university and you can easily find one online. While I was there, I stayed at a hostel called Zinger, which I found on an online portal called Bookyourhostel.com. You should also be able to find a lot of options on social media platforms like Facebook and Instagram. There are various channels or pages in the name of the university, where you will be able to find plenty of current students, who might help you out.

If you find a suitable hostel online, you can book it directly from the website. Beware of scammers on these portals though, make sure you book it on a credible website, otherwise, you might face a lot of challenges when you reach there.

Regards,

Adam

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 6.5

You have addressed all three bullet points in the prompt. You described your experience at 'Zinger' hostel, recommended searching via online portals and social media, and provided a warning regarding potential scams. The tone is appropriate for an email to a friend. However, the development of your ideas is somewhat brief. To reach a higher band, you could provide more specific details about the living experience or elaborate further on the 'mistakes' students make, such as the importance of checking the location's proximity to campus or reading reviews from previous tenants, rather than just focusing on scams.

Coherence and Cohesion — Band 7.0

The email is logically organized with a clear introduction, body paragraphs, and a closing. Each paragraph focuses on a specific aspect of the prompt. You use some cohesive devices like 'While I was there' and 'If you find', which help the flow of information. However, the transitions between sentences could be more varied to improve the overall cohesion. The paragraphing is appropriate for an informal letter, and the progression of ideas is easy to follow throughout the text.

Lexical Resource — Band 6.5

You have a sufficient range of vocabulary to convey your message clearly. Phrases like 'prestigious universities' and 'credible website' are used effectively. However, the vocabulary is somewhat functional and lacks a wider range of less common or more sophisticated collocations. To improve, try to incorporate more descriptive adjectives or idiomatic expressions that would be natural in a friendly email. The word choice is generally accurate, and there are no spelling errors that impede communication.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 7.0

You demonstrate a good control of grammar with a mix of simple and complex sentence structures. For example, the use of conditional clauses ('If you find... you can book...') is accurate. There are very few grammatical errors, and the punctuation is generally correct. To achieve a higher band, you could experiment with a wider variety of complex structures, such as using passive voice or more varied subordinate clauses to add depth to your advice. The current level of accuracy is high, with no errors that cause confusion.

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

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