Band 6.0 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer
Overall Band Score: 6.0 · Cambridge IELTS 16 · 2026-09-03
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 6.0)
Dear Dhruv,
Congratulations for applying in Oxford University and you are coming to England. Firstly, I used to live near James Street, which is not far away from the university and the flats as well as houses are cheap in rate compared to other apart from this i will guide you through everything.
However, Facebook Marketplace is the best way to find accommodation here. Since there will be people of a certain community, one wants to chat and communicate about a house or anything else, which is crucial for living in a particular place or for the house like, furniture, a stove, mattress.
Moreover, a person should never talk to any strange call or with a shady strangers due to the reason, on some places there will be risks of chain snatchers or people who do drugs. Lastly, be aware of job scammers who said they will give you training for one month as there is no such rule.
Your Faithfully,
SARBJIT KAUR
AI examiner evaluation
| Criterion | Band |
|---|---|
| Task Achievement / Task Response | 6.0 |
| Coherence and Cohesion | 6.0 |
| Lexical Resource | 6.0 |
| Grammatical Range and Accuracy | 5.5 |
| Overall | 6.0 |
Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 6.0
You have addressed all three bullet points required by the task: describing your past accommodation, recommending a search method, and providing a warning. However, the development of these points is somewhat limited. For example, the advice regarding Facebook Marketplace is a bit vague and lacks a clear explanation of why it is the 'best' way. Additionally, the warning about 'shady strangers' and 'job scammers' is slightly disconnected from the context of finding student accommodation. To improve, ensure your ideas are more fully developed and directly relevant to the specific scenario of a student looking for a place to live.
Coherence and Cohesion — Band 6.0
The email is organised into clear paragraphs, which helps the reader follow the structure. You have used some cohesive devices such as 'Firstly', 'However', and 'Moreover' to link your ideas. However, some transitions are slightly mechanical or awkward, such as the transition into the second paragraph. The flow of ideas within the paragraphs could be smoother; for instance, the sentence about 'people of a certain community' is unclear and disrupts the logical progression of your advice. Improving the use of linking words and ensuring that each sentence builds logically on the previous one will enhance the coherence of your writing.
Lexical Resource — Band 6.0
Your vocabulary is generally adequate for the task, allowing you to communicate your main points. You use some relevant terms like 'accommodation', 'flats', and 'furniture'. However, there are instances of imprecise word choice and awkward phrasing, such as 'cheap in rate' (instead of 'affordable' or 'low rent') and 'strange call' (instead of 'suspicious calls'). There are also some minor errors in collocation, such as 'Congratulations for applying in Oxford University' (should be 'on applying to'). To reach a higher band, try to incorporate more natural collocations and precise vocabulary related to housing and advice.
Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 5.5
You demonstrate a mix of simple and complex sentence structures. While the meaning is generally clear, there are frequent grammatical errors that occasionally distract the reader. Examples include 'Congratulations for applying in' (should be 'on'), 'the flats as well as houses are cheap' (awkward phrasing), and 'there is no such rule' (which is slightly vague). Punctuation is also inconsistent, particularly with comma usage in complex sentences. To improve, focus on subject-verb agreement, correct preposition usage, and refining your sentence structure to ensure greater accuracy and control over your grammar.
See this exact question answered at other band scores — the same prompt compared across bands.
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