Band 6.0 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 6.0 · Cambridge IELTS 16 · 2026-09-25

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 Sara,

It's been so long that we haven't met. I recently come to know that you have been offered a course by The Lahore University. It is a good opportunity that you should avail for your future betterment as a medical imaging technologist.

When I was a student there, I used to live in the hostel inside boundaries of the university. There are two girl's hostels consisting of 500 rooms each for female students. But it is difficult to get their reservation just for three months course. They allot these hostels to the degree program students, when they go on vacations usually rooms remain booked in their name. That's why you will find it hard to get hostel in the university.

I would recommend you the private hostel, that is located just near the university's gate # 2. When you exit the university gate 2, it's just on your left hand named as AL-Noor girls hostel. I am sharing you the warden's number. I have already asked her for the accomodation. She said, she will manage it for you on Monday. The preventive measures you should take as your first experience with hostel. Must take care of your belongings, food and clothes by yourself. I would recommend you to keep lock on cabin and keep some snacks along with you for late night cravings because gate will be locked by 9.00 PM.

Some students make mistake in choosing accomodation far away from unversity that causes them late arrivals and transport issues. Now I am wrapping up my email.

Regards,

Areeba

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response: Band 6.5

The response effectively covers all bullet points required by the prompt. You successfully described your past living situation in the university hostel ("when I was a student there, I used to live in the hostel inside boundaries"), recommended a specific alternative accommodation ("AL-Noor girls hostel" near gate 2), and warned her about common mistakes ("Some students make mistake in choosing accomodation far away"). The tone is appropriately friendly and informal, suitable for an email to a friend. The purpose of the communication is clear throughout, and all required information is fully and logically presented, earning a solid Band 7.0 for this criterion.

Coherence and Cohesion: Band 6.0

The email has a clear, logical structure with an appropriate opening and closing. Ideas are organized into distinct paragraphs corresponding to the prompt requirements, such as describing past accommodation and making recommendations. Cohesive devices are used, although some transitions feel slightly mechanical or abrupt, such as "Now I am wrapping up my email." Referencing is generally clear, and paragraphing is managed sufficiently to guide the reader smoothly through the narrative, warranting a Band 6.5.

Lexical Resource: Band 6.0

You demonstrate an adequate range of vocabulary suitable for the task, including terms like "betterment," "medical imaging technologist," "reservations," and "preventive measures." There are some minor word choice and spelling inaccuracies, such as "come to know" instead of "came to know," "accomodation" spelled with a single 'm', and "inside boundaries" missing an article. However, these errors do not impede communication, and the vocabulary is sufficient to convey your meaning effectively, supporting a Band 6.0.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy: Band 6.0

The response features a mix of simple and complex sentence structures, such as conditional ideas and relative clauses ("When I was a student there, I used to live..."). However, there are several grammatical errors and awkward phrasings, including "It's been so long that we haven't met" (unnatural collocation) and "She said, she will manage it" (unnecessary comma and tense shift in reported speech). Punctuation and article usage are inconsistent at times, but the meaning remains clear throughout, placing this at a Band 6.0.

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

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