Band 7.5 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 7.5 · Cambridge IELTS 16 · 2026-09-05

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 John,

I hope you are doing well. I received your mail I'm glad that you got admission in Carleton university. I have some suggestions for you as you asked for some advice on accommodation options.

When I was a student at the university, I used to live in an apartment which was closer to the university. I stayed with two other students who helped me to find that apartment from Facebook marketplace. The rent was quite cheaper and the area was completely calm which was beneficial as we were students.

I'd suggest you some of the online platforms to find such places for accommodations. You can visit Facebook marketplace, Kijiji or you can even search online on the university website but that would be more expensive. You can also ask your classmates and find a better place to stay together which is beneficial, as you can also help each other in assignments or projects.

However, there are several things to keep in mind. Please don't send or give any money before visiting the place or the owner. Sometimes people ask to send money to confirm the viewing of the place which could end up in a fraud. It is better to discuss everything on the day of meeting the landlord about the rent, utilities or any extra possible penalties. Once you have cleared all your doubts and like the place only then sign the contract of lease agreement.

Also, try to find a place which is closer to the university because it would reduce the time of transport.

Let me know if you have any further questions or doubts.

Best wishes,

Utsav

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 8.0

The response successfully addresses all three bullet points of the prompt. You clearly described your past living situation, provided practical recommendations for finding accommodation, and offered a relevant warning regarding potential fraud. The tone is appropriate for an email to a friend, and the ideas are well-developed and relevant to the task. The structure is logical, and you have maintained a consistent focus throughout the email. To reach a higher band, ensure that your opening and closing are slightly more natural and varied in tone, but overall, the task requirements are fully met.

Coherence and Cohesion — Band 7.5

The email is well-organized with a clear progression of ideas. Each paragraph focuses on a specific aspect of the prompt, which aids readability. You use cohesive devices such as 'However', 'Also', and 'Once you have' to link your ideas effectively. The paragraphing is appropriate for an informal email. While the flow is generally smooth, some transitions could be more sophisticated to improve the overall cohesion. For instance, using a wider variety of linking phrases would help the text feel more natural and less mechanical.

Lexical Resource — Band 7.0

You demonstrate a sufficient range of vocabulary to convey your message clearly. Phrases like 'online platforms', 'potential penalties', and 'lease agreement' are used accurately. However, there are some minor inaccuracies in word choice, such as 'quite cheaper' (which should be 'quite cheap' or 'much cheaper') and 'got admission in' (which is better phrased as 'got accepted to' or 'received an offer from'). While the vocabulary is adequate for the task, incorporating more precise collocations would elevate the quality of your writing.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 7.0

You use a mix of simple and complex sentence structures effectively. Most of your sentences are clear and error-free, which allows for easy communication. There are a few minor grammatical slips, such as 'I'd suggest you some of the online platforms' (should be 'I'd suggest some online platforms to you') and 'closer to the university' (which is grammatically fine, but 'close to' is more common). Punctuation is generally accurate. To improve, focus on refining your use of articles and prepositions to ensure complete grammatical precision.

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

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