Band 7.5 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer
Overall Band Score: 7.5 · Cambridge IELTS 16 · 2026-09-08
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 Julia,
I hope you're in the pink of health! I'm so excited to know that you're going to join Cape Breton University this semester. I know you must be worried about finding a place to live. Don't worry, I'm here to assist you regarding this. While stuyding at CBU, I stayed in Sydney where I lived in a shared accommodation to save money. Although it was a little far from the university, the bus service made it easy for me to commute.
Since Sydney is a small community, it's significantly easy to contact local people through social media. I'd recommend checking the advertisement posted on Facebook as you might find the best deals there. Don't forget to email the student union's office as they could provide a cost comparison of living on-campus and off-campus.
While it is convenient to contact landlords online, some students become victim of frauds. I would strictly prohibit you to sign any contract without sending somebody to physically examine the property. Please read the terms and coniditons carefully provided before signing the lease agreement.
All the best for your future and let me know if you need any help.
Kind regards,
Jashan
AI examiner evaluation
| Criterion | Band |
|---|---|
| Task Achievement / Task Response | 8.0 |
| Coherence and Cohesion | 8.0 |
| Lexical Resource | 7.0 |
| Grammatical Range and Accuracy | 7.0 |
| Overall | 7.5 |
Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 8.0
You have successfully addressed all three bullet points in the prompt. You described your past living situation, provided a clear recommendation for finding accommodation, and offered a relevant warning regarding potential scams. The tone is appropriate for an email to a friend, and the purpose of the letter is clear throughout. The ideas are well-developed and relevant to the context of a student moving to a new university. 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 task, which makes the structure easy to follow. You use cohesive devices such as 'Although', 'Since', and 'While' effectively to link your thoughts. The paragraphing is appropriate for an informal email, and the flow between sentences is generally smooth. There is a consistent, logical development of the topic from start to finish.
Lexical Resource — Band 7.0
You demonstrate a good range of vocabulary, including idiomatic expressions like 'in the pink of health' and functional phrases such as 'lease agreement' and 'cost comparison'. There are a few minor spelling errors, such as 'stuyding' and 'coniditons', but these do not impede communication. The word choice is generally natural and appropriate for the context. To reach a higher band, you could incorporate more precise collocations or slightly more sophisticated vocabulary to describe your experiences.
Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 7.0
You use a mix of simple and complex sentence structures with generally good control. There are some minor grammatical slips, such as 'I would strictly prohibit you to sign' (should be 'prohibit you from signing') and 'some students become victim of frauds' (should be 'victims of fraud'). However, these errors are infrequent and do not cause confusion. Your punctuation is mostly accurate, and the overall grammatical control is strong enough to convey your message clearly and effectively.
See this exact question answered at other band scores — the same prompt compared across bands.
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