Band 6.5 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer
Overall Band Score: 6.5 · Cambridge IELTS 16 · 2026-08-30
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 6.5)
Dear John,
Hope you're doing well! I'm really glad to hear that you have got an admission in the same university where I studied. I'm pleased you asked my suggestion regarding accommodation.
For the last 3 years, I lived in a hostel number 9 named Amrita Pritam Hostel which is near to Chemistry department. Although there are several places to live near the university, it is the best residence if you find a place to reside in one of the university hotels as it is convenient to go for classes.
The best way to find the accommodation is an official website of the university. You can also check on the website how many seats are available for your course. Moreover, they provide a shortlist based on marks' percentage at the end of August.
As I didn't know that there is also single rooms available in the hostels, I have to live in a shared room. Consequently, I had to live there for the whole first year and it was really difficult for me to adjust with the roommate.
Hope this advice is beneficial for you!
Best Regards,
Ravneet
AI examiner evaluation
| Criterion | Band |
|---|---|
| Task Achievement / Task Response | 7.0 |
| Coherence and Cohesion | 7.0 |
| Lexical Resource | 6.0 |
| Grammatical Range and Accuracy | 6.0 |
| Overall | 6.5 |
Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 7.0
You have successfully addressed all three bullet points in the prompt. You described your past accommodation, recommended the university website, and provided a warning about room types. The tone is appropriate for an email to a friend. To improve, you could expand slightly on the 'why' behind your recommendations to make the advice feel more personal and helpful. For example, explaining why the university website is better than private rental sites would add depth. Overall, you have fulfilled the requirements of the task effectively.
Coherence and Cohesion — Band 7.0
The email is logically organized with clear paragraphing. Each paragraph focuses on one of the required points, which makes the structure easy to follow. You use some cohesive devices like 'Although', 'Moreover', and 'Consequently' to link your ideas. However, some transitions feel a bit mechanical. To reach a higher band, try to vary your linking words and ensure that the flow between sentences is more natural. For instance, the transition between the second and third paragraph could be smoother to better connect your recommendation to your warning.
Lexical Resource — Band 6.0
You have a sufficient range of vocabulary to convey your message clearly. Phrases like 'convenient to go for classes' and 'adjust with the roommate' are functional. However, there are some minor inaccuracies in word choice, such as 'hostel number 9' (usually just 'Hostel 9') and 'university hotels' (which likely refers to 'halls of residence' or 'dormitories'). To improve, focus on using more precise collocations related to housing and university life. Your vocabulary is adequate for the task but lacks the flexibility and precision required for higher bands.
Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 6.0
You demonstrate a mix of simple and complex sentence structures. There are some grammatical errors, such as 'you have got an admission' (should be 'you have been admitted' or 'you have gained admission') and 'I have to live' (should be 'I had to live' to maintain past tense consistency). Additionally, 'there is also single rooms' should be 'there are also single rooms'. While these errors are noticeable, they do not impede communication. To improve, focus on maintaining consistent verb tenses and ensuring subject-verb agreement.
See this exact question answered at other band scores — the same prompt compared across bands.
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