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 glad to hear that you have got an admission in Algoma University. I'm pleased that you have asked my suggestion for accommodation. During study, I lived in on-campus accommodation provided by the university.
I was living in a single room which is suitable for studying environment. You can write an email to the Student's Success department to ask if a room is available now. The reason to accommodate to this place is that it is convenient for attending the classes. Additionally, you can apply for an on-campus job, it can save the transportation cost.
Initially, I shared a room with the other student who was not co-operative with me. Due to which I have suffered a lot while studying which often leads to dispute among students. I strictly warns you to go for a single room to maintain a nice environment for studies.
Hope this advice would be beneficial for you to accommodate to the university.
Best Regards,
Arsh
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
The response addresses all three bullet points required by the prompt. You clearly described your past living situation, provided a recommendation for finding housing, and included a warning about potential pitfalls. The tone is appropriate for an email to a friend. To reach a higher band, ensure that your advice is fully developed; for instance, when mentioning the 'Student's Success department,' you could briefly explain why they are the best point of contact. Overall, the message is clear, relevant, and fulfills the requirements of the task effectively.
Coherence and Cohesion — Band 7.0
The email is logically organized into distinct paragraphs, each focusing on a specific requirement of the task. The progression of ideas is easy to follow. You use some cohesive devices such as 'Additionally' and 'Initially' to link your thoughts. However, some transitions feel slightly mechanical, and the connection between sentences could be smoother. For example, the transition between discussing the room type and the Student's Success department could be improved to create a more natural flow. Overall, the structure is clear and supports the reader's understanding.
Lexical Resource — Band 6.0
You demonstrate an adequate range of vocabulary for the task, using terms like 'accommodation,' 'convenient,' and 'co-operative.' There are some minor issues with word choice and collocation, such as 'got an admission' (should be 'received an offer' or 'been accepted') and 'reason to accommodate to this place' (which is slightly unnatural). While the vocabulary is sufficient to convey your meaning clearly, it lacks the precision and variety required for higher bands. Focusing on more natural collocations will help improve your score in this area.
Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 6.0
You use a mix of simple and complex sentence structures. There are several grammatical errors, such as 'I strictly warns you' (subject-verb agreement error) and 'the other student' (should be 'another student'). Additionally, the phrase 'Due to which I have suffered' is grammatically awkward. While these errors do not impede communication, they occur frequently enough to prevent a higher score. To improve, focus on subject-verb agreement and the correct use of relative clauses. Increasing your control over these basic structures will lead to more error-free sentences.
See this exact question answered at other band scores — the same prompt compared across bands.
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