Band 6.5 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 6.5 · Barron's Writing · 2026-07-29

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 6.5)

Dear Manager,

I hope you are doing well. I am writing this email to discuss the statement that I rode in a taxi yesterday. When I got home, I realized I had left my bag in the taxi.

Firstly, we should take into account the importance of explaining my bag, which will contribute to the overall efficiency and well-being of the operations. It was black in colour.

Also, if we consider the likelihood of describing my bag, it is expected to have a three-fold effect due to several reasons, including the buckle and chain.

Moreover, asking the manager to help you find it should not be neglected, as it can increase the chance of success. If you find my bag, you can contact me by email.

I hope you will find my bag as soon as possible because college materials were inside the bag, such as my student ID.

Thank you for your time.

Best regards,

Jasvir

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 6.0

The letter addresses all three bullet points: explaining the loss, describing the bag, and requesting assistance. However, the tone is highly inappropriate for a formal letter to a manager. Phrases like 'we should take into account the importance of explaining my bag' and 'if we consider the likelihood of describing my bag' are unnatural, overly academic, and do not fit the context of a lost property report. The content is somewhat repetitive and lacks the direct, functional language required for a formal request. While the task is technically fulfilled, the lack of appropriate register significantly impacts the effectiveness of the communication.

Coherence and Cohesion — Band 6.5

The letter is organised into paragraphs, which is a positive feature. However, the use of cohesive devices is mechanical and often illogical. For example, the transition 'we should take into account the importance of explaining my bag' does not logically follow the previous paragraph. The flow of ideas is hindered by the use of overly complex, abstract phrasing that obscures the simple message. While the reader can follow the sequence of events, the connections between sentences feel forced and unnatural, which prevents the writing from reaching a higher band.

Lexical Resource — Band 6.0

The vocabulary is limited and often misused due to an attempt to sound overly formal. Phrases such as 'three-fold effect' and 'well-being of the operations' are completely out of place in a letter about a lost bag. These choices demonstrate a lack of awareness regarding register and collocation. While the student can communicate the basic facts, the lexical choices are frequently inappropriate for the task, making the letter sound robotic and confusing rather than professional.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 6.5

The grammar is generally accurate in terms of sentence construction, with few major errors in syntax. The student uses a mix of simple and complex structures, such as conditional sentences ('If you find my bag...'). However, the writing suffers from a lack of natural phrasing. The errors are not necessarily grammatical in the traditional sense, but rather stylistic, as the student struggles to use language that is appropriate for the context. The sentences are grammatically sound but stylistically awkward.

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