Band 5.0 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer
Overall Band Score: 5.0 · Cambridge IELTS 16 · 2026-10-06
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 5.0)
hello my dear friend, initally congratulation to get addmission the wonderful university. As soon as i received this news i was cloud nine becusr higher education wil bring a beter furture opportunities for you . so now you plan to move in chandigarh for your eduaction and ask me for your advice as you knoe i already completed my study for that particular university and well aware about that place. Thus, i would like to recpmmentd you to stay indoor campus of university than outside becausr you know the crime rate arising day by day and campus is the best place for living for student and to get placce in campus you need to request the accommodation officers because they were also helped me whwn i was there . moreover , i woud highly advice you to refrain any idea if you plan to stay with other boys because not everyone is good in current scenario and some student indulge into bad activities when they stave away form their guardians . i hope you understand my advice and think twice before taking any initiative . T hsnk you .
AI examiner evaluation
| Criterion | Band |
|---|---|
| Task Achievement / Task Response | 5.0 |
| Coherence and Cohesion | 4.5 |
| Lexical Resource | 5.0 |
| Grammatical Range and Accuracy | 5.0 |
| Overall | 5.0 |
Task Achievement / Task Response: Band 5.0
You respond to the accommodation topic and give a clear main recommendation: seek a place on campus by contacting the accommodation officers. You also warn your friend about living with other students, so the advice is relevant. However, the task is only partly covered: you do not describe where you personally lived as a student, and the warning is broad rather than focused on practical mistakes such as choosing a place without checking its condition, cost, or distance. The suggestion to avoid living with other boys is not sufficiently explained and may sound overly general. To strengthen the response, briefly describe your own former accommodation and give specific, balanced advice for searching and checking a place.
Coherence and Cohesion: Band 4.5
The response has a recognisable sequence: you congratulate your friend, introduce your experience, recommend campus accommodation, and offer a warning. Linking expressions such as “so,” “thus,” and “moreover” help signal these moves. However, nearly all the ideas are packed into one long paragraph, so the email has little visible organisation or progression. Some links feel mechanical, and the relationship between the crime-rate comment and the recommendation is not fully developed. The ending, “i hope you understand my advice,” provides a basic close, but the email would be clearer with separate paragraphs for your experience, search advice, and warning, followed by a natural sign-off.
Lexical Resource: Band 5.0
You use some vocabulary relevant to the situation, including “accommodation officers,” “campus,” “crime rate,” and “guardians,” and the reader can generally identify your intended advice. However, the range is limited and several spelling and word-choice errors make parts difficult to understand, such as “recpmmentd,” “stave away,” and “higher education wil bring a beter furture opportunities.” Some expressions are also unnatural for a friendly email, including “stay indoor campus” and “taking any initiative.” Aim for accurate, natural collocations and check spelling carefully. More precise terms for searching and evaluating housing would also help you explain your advice clearly.
Grammatical Range and Accuracy: Band 5.0
You attempt to connect ideas in longer sentences using clauses and conjunctions, for example, “because you know the crime rate arising day by day” and “if you plan to stay with other boys.” This shows an effort to use more than simple sentence patterns. However, these longer constructions are often faulty, and errors in sentence boundaries, verb forms, articles, and agreement occur frequently. For instance, “i already completed my study” needs a more suitable tense and form, while “they were also helped me” has an incorrect verb construction. Capitalisation and punctuation are also inconsistent. Use shorter, controlled sentences first, then add complex clauses once their grammar is secure.
See this exact question answered at other band scores. The same prompt compared across bands.
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