Band 7.5 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer
Overall Band Score: 7.5 · Cambridge IELTS 16 · 2026-08-28
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)
Dear Samantha,
I am delighted to know that you have secured a spot at Trinity Western University, one of the best institutions in British Columbia. I enjoyed my time at the university and hope you will too. During my time as a student, I lived in a student rental on Glover Road to the university. It was a small studio apartment in the high rise tower, very conveniently located near the transit. The commute to the college was only 10 minutes by public transport.
The easiest way to look for a place is to explore the rentals on online platforms like Facebook Marketplace, Kijiji, and University living. I found mine on Facebook Marketplace within two days of arrival. These websites have photos, videos, descriptions, owner's contact, and addresses for easy accessibility to the places.
Furthermore, I would recommend you to not follow the pattern of mistakes which other students have done in past like - reading the lease carelessly, not investigating electricity connections, and the move in charges required, while finalizing a place. Should you have any questions, please reach out. Thanks.
Warm regards,
Peter Anderson
AI examiner evaluation
| Criterion | Band |
|---|---|
| Task Achievement / Task Response | 8.0 |
| Coherence and Cohesion | 8.0 |
| Lexical Resource | 7.0 |
| Grammatical Range and Accuracy | 7.5 |
| Overall | 7.5 |
Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 8.0
The response successfully addresses all three bullet points of the task. You provided a clear description of your previous accommodation, offered practical advice on how to search for housing, and included a relevant warning about common pitfalls. The tone is appropriate for an email to a friend, and the purpose of the letter is clear from the outset. The ideas are well-developed and relevant, providing enough detail to be helpful without straying from the prompt. You have fully satisfied the requirements of the task.
Coherence and Cohesion — Band 8.0
The email is logically organized with a clear progression of ideas. Each paragraph focuses on a specific requirement of the prompt, which makes the information easy to follow. You use cohesive devices such as 'Furthermore' and 'During my time' effectively to link sentences and ideas. The paragraphing is appropriate for an informal email, and the transition between the description of your experience and the advice section is smooth. The overall structure is coherent and supports the message well.
Lexical Resource — Band 7.0
You demonstrate a good range of vocabulary that is appropriate for the context. Phrases like 'secured a spot', 'conveniently located', and 'investigating electricity connections' show a solid command of language. While the vocabulary is functional and accurate, it could be slightly more varied to reach the highest band. There are no significant errors in word choice or collocation that impede meaning, and the tone remains consistent throughout the piece.
Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 7.5
The grammar is generally accurate, with a mix of simple and complex sentence structures. You use conditional structures ('Should you have any questions') and relative clauses effectively. There are a few minor slips, such as 'mistakes which other students have done in past' (should be 'have made in the past') and 'move in charges' (should be hyphenated as 'move-in charges'). However, these errors are infrequent and do not interfere with communication. The majority of your sentences are error-free.
See this exact question answered at other band scores — the same prompt compared across bands.
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