Band 5.5 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 5.5 · Cambridge IELTS 16 · 2026-10-09

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 5.5)

Dear Shweta,

I'm happy for you that you are going to study at carleton university for your higher education. this is one of the best university in North America. I have got your mail last week and you are looking to find an accomodation in town, therefore, I thought to assist you to find one. When I was there, I lived in the university campus, because that was the only way i could reside for my initial stay. Also it was convineant for me due to commute.

There is one facebook page where you can join as member and look up for the accomodation. Also, there is one facebook group named Gujjus in ottawa, you can join the group, some of my friends would help you to find a lead.

living in the university campus was my biggest mistake, because, it came with the restriction and limitation. you can not have your friends over, you have to be back by 10 PM e.t.c

My best wishes are always with you.

Yours

Reena.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response: Band 6.0

You address all three requested points: you explain that you lived on campus, suggest Facebook as a way to find accommodation, and warn about restrictions on visitors and returning by 10 p.m. The advice is relevant and the friendly email format is appropriate. However, the recommendation is only partly developed: you mention a page and a group, but do not explain how to assess listings or what steps your friend should take to secure a suitable place. The warning is also based mainly on your own experience, with little detail about other common mistakes students should avoid. Develop these points with practical examples, such as checking the lease and visiting a property before paying.

Coherence and Cohesion: Band 5.5

The email has a generally understandable order: you introduce your friend’s situation, describe your own accommodation, give a search suggestion, and then offer a warning. Paragraph breaks help distinguish these topics. However, progression within the paragraphs is sometimes abrupt, and linking is occasionally mechanical. For example, “therefore, I thought to assist you” moves quickly from receiving the email to offering help, while “Also” introduces another suggestion without explaining how it relates to the first. The long opening paragraph combines several ideas that could be separated more clearly. Use clearer transitions and organise the advice into distinct steps so the reader can follow the recommendation and warning more easily.

Lexical Resource: Band 5.0

You use enough vocabulary to communicate the main ideas, including relevant terms such as “university campus,” “commute,” “restriction,” and “limitation.” The tone is generally suitable for a personal email. However, the range is limited and some word choices or collocations are inaccurate, such as “look up for the accomodation,” “find a lead,” and “assist you to find one.” Spelling and capitalisation also affect the impression of control: “accomodation,” “convineant,” and “ottawa” should be corrected. Aim for more natural phrases such as “search for accommodation,” “get a lead,” and “help you find a place,” and check spelling carefully.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy: Band 5.0

You attempt both simple and more complex sentences, including a reason clause in “I lived in the university campus, because that was the only way…” and a sentence explaining the convenience of your location. The main message remains understandable, but errors occur across sentence boundaries, verb forms, articles, and agreement. For example, “this is one of the best university” needs a plural noun and capitalisation, while “I have got your mail last week” uses an unsuitable tense with a finished time expression. The sentence beginning “living in the university campus was my biggest mistake” also needs clearer punctuation and sentence control. Practise accurate past-tense narration and review articles, plurals, and capital letters.

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

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