Band 5.0 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 5.0 · Cambridge IELTS 16 · 2026-10-22

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)

Dear Jomel, when i was in my college students at university,i lived at the back at the university there is a small village at the back and many of that villager was renting thier small unit to the students at the university,it is the best location for the students and recommendable accomodation there because it is walking distance at school university,All of that student that lived far in the university was renting at the back at the university because it is affordable to the students and it is peacefull to lived and you can focus study in the area. But sometimes you can choose the area of the accomodation i suggest to get the area far along the basketball court beacause many of the student ther playing basketketball even the evening and it is very noisy there so choose the unit far away there or you can choose near to the entrance of the village so that if you go to school you can walk around 5 minutes and you are at the school.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response: Band 4.5

You address the main topic and give relevant information about your former accommodation: it was in a village behind the university, affordable, peaceful, and within walking distance. You also offer a location-based recommendation, warning about noise near the basketball court. However, the task is only partially covered: you do not clearly explain how your friend should search for accommodation, such as contacting student services, checking university listings, or visiting rental websites. The warning focuses on one possible problem and could include other common mistakes, such as agreeing to rent without viewing the room or checking costs and conditions. Develop each requested point more fully and make the advice directly addressed to your friend.

Coherence and Cohesion: Band 5.0

The response has a basic overall order: you first describe where you lived, then discuss which areas your friend might choose or avoid. This helps the reader identify the main topics. However, the ideas are packed into two very long paragraphs, and the first sentence contains several points joined together without clear breaks. The transition beginning “But sometimes” is not fully clear because it does not explain what contrast is intended. Use separate paragraphs for your experience, search advice, and warnings, and connect each idea with straightforward linking phrases such as “To find a room” and “One thing to avoid.” This would make the progression easier to follow.

Lexical Resource: Band 5.0

You use a small range of relevant vocabulary, including “walking distance,” “affordable,” “peaceful,” and “noisy,” which communicates useful features of the area. However, the range is limited and some word choices or spellings make the message less natural, for example “recommendable accomodation,” “villager,” and “focus study.” Repetition of “at the back” and “students” also reduces variety. Aim for more precise accommodation vocabulary and natural collocations, such as “a room in a nearby village,” “rental listings,” and “concentrate on your studies.” Check spelling carefully, especially in words such as “accommodation” and “peaceful,” so the reader can understand your advice without distraction.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy: Band 5.0

You attempt to combine ideas using clauses and reasons, for example explaining that the village is convenient because it is close to the university. However, the response relies on long, loosely connected sentences, and errors in sentence structure and verb forms are frequent enough to make parts difficult to read. In “when i was in my college students at university,” the opening clause is not grammatically complete, while “many of that villager was renting” has problems with number and agreement. Punctuation and capitalisation are also inconsistent. Practise writing shorter complete sentences first, then add one subordinate clause at a time. Review past-tense forms, articles, and singular/plural agreement.

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

Browse more IELTS Writing model answers or get your own writing scored by the same AI examiner.