Band 7.0 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 7.0 · Barron's Writing · 2026-07-24

IELTS Writing Task 1 question

You rode in a taxi yesterday. When you got home, you realized you had left your bag in the taxi.

Write a letter to the manager of the taxi company. In your letter
• explain how you lost your bag.
• describe your bag.
• ask the manager to help you find it.

You do NOT need to write any addresses.

Begin your letter as follows:

Dear Sir or Madam,

Student answer (Band 7.0)

Dear Sir or Madam,

I am writing with regards to my my bag I left in your taxi yesterday, 23rd of July.

Firstly, when I got into the taxi, I was so comfortable to the point that I dozed off. It was something that has never happened to me before and due to that, I stepped out without realizing that I didn't come out with my bag. That was because I was very tired that night and couldn't think straight.

Secondly, I would like to describe how the bag looks like, it is a Zara brand new black leather bag and it has the logo ZARA on the left side of the handle. It is very small and portable, very easy to locate because it has a padlock on the zipper.

Finally, I would appreciate if you could help me to find out and have it delivered to my location at number 5 Sandra road by Robert Street.

Thank you and I look forward to hearing from you.

Yours faithfully,

Charity.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 7.5

The letter successfully addresses all three bullet points required by the prompt. You clearly explain the circumstances of losing the bag, provide a detailed description of the item, and include a polite request for assistance. The tone is appropriate for a formal letter to a company manager. The ideas are well-developed and the purpose of the correspondence is clear from the outset. To reach a higher band, ensure that the details provided are slightly more integrated; for instance, mentioning the specific time or taxi number would add a layer of realism that further strengthens the task response.

Coherence and Cohesion — Band 7.5

The letter is logically organized into distinct paragraphs, each serving a clear purpose. The use of transition signals such as 'Firstly', 'Secondly', and 'Finally' helps the reader follow the progression of your ideas. However, the connection between sentences could be smoother. For example, the transition between the description of the bag and the request for help is a bit abrupt. Using a wider variety of cohesive devices beyond simple sequencing words would improve the flow. Overall, the paragraphing is appropriate and the message is easy to follow throughout the text.

Lexical Resource — Band 6.5

You demonstrate an adequate range of vocabulary for this task, using terms like 'portable', 'padlock', and 'zipper' effectively. There are some minor issues with word choice and collocation, such as 'describe how the bag looks like' (which should be 'describe what the bag looks like' or 'describe the appearance of the bag'). Additionally, 'find out' is slightly imprecise in this context; 'locate' or 'retrieve' would be more professional. While the vocabulary is sufficient to convey your meaning clearly, incorporating more sophisticated or precise collocations would help elevate the lexical score.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 6.5

The letter contains a mix of simple and complex sentence structures. There are some grammatical slips, such as the repetition of 'my' in the opening sentence and the slightly awkward phrasing 'I was so comfortable to the point that I dozed off'. Punctuation is generally functional, though there is a comma splice in the second paragraph ('...looks like, it is...'). Despite these errors, the meaning is never obscured, and the grammar is sufficient for the reader to understand the situation perfectly. Focusing on sentence variety and proofreading for minor slips will help improve your accuracy.

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