Band 8.0 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 8.0 · Barron's Writing · 2026-08-01

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 8.0)

Dear Sir or Madam,

I am writing this to formally request your assistance in finding my bag, which I forgot in your company's taxi.

Let me explain to you the whole situation. Actually, I booked a taxi on your company's website on 15th May for my return trip from Chandigarh to Tarn Taran. The moment I reached home, I realized that I had left my bag in the taxi's trunk.

I would like to provide you with some details of the bag, which can be helpful for your team members to identify it. It is a black leather bag with the logo of Nike on it, and quite big in size. Moreover, I kept my water bottle in the side pocket of the bag.

I would be really grateful to you if you can assit me in this situation because all of my cards were inside it. I hope you will accept my request and help me to solve this problem. I am looking for a prompt response from you.

Kind regards,

komal

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 8.5

The letter successfully addresses all three bullet points: explaining how the bag was lost, describing the bag, and requesting assistance. The tone is appropriate for a formal letter to a company manager. The purpose of the letter is clear from the beginning, and the information provided is sufficient to allow the recipient to take action. The ideas are well-developed, and the response maintains a consistent focus on the task requirements throughout. No parts of the prompt were omitted, and the letter follows the requested structure effectively.

Coherence and Cohesion — Band 8.5

The letter is logically organized with a clear introduction, body paragraphs, and a closing. Each paragraph focuses on a specific aspect of the task, which aids readability. Cohesive devices such as 'Moreover', 'Actually', and 'The moment I reached home' are used to connect ideas effectively. The progression of information is smooth, moving from the context of the trip to the description of the item and finally the request for help. Paragraphing is used appropriately to separate the different stages of the narrative.

Lexical Resource — Band 7.5

The vocabulary is adequate and appropriate for a formal letter. The student uses specific terms like 'formally request', 'assistance', and 'identify' correctly. While the vocabulary is functional rather than highly sophisticated, it is precise enough to convey the message clearly. There are no significant errors in word choice or collocation. To reach a higher band, the student could incorporate more varied and precise adjectives or formal business terminology, but the current range is sufficient for the task requirements.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 8.0

The letter demonstrates a good control of grammar with a mix of simple and complex sentence structures. Most sentences are error-free, and the punctuation is generally accurate. There is a minor spelling error ('assit' instead of 'assist'), but this does not impede communication. The use of tenses is consistent, particularly when describing the past event of the taxi ride and the current situation regarding the lost bag. The grammatical control is stable, and the writing is easy to follow throughout.

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