Band 8.5 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 8.5 · Barron's Writing · 2026-08-04

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 8.5)

Dear Sir or Madam,

I am writing to report a bag that I accidentally left in one of your taxis yesterday. I took the taxi from the city centre to my home in the evening. After I arrived, I paid the driver and went inside in a hurry. About half an hour later, I realized that I had forgotten my bag on the back seat of the taxi.

The bag is a medium-sized black leather handbag with a long shoulder strap. It has a silver zipper and a small pocket on the front. Inside the bag were my wallet, house keys, a notebook, and some important documents. These items are very valuable to me, especially the documents.

I would be very grateful if you could contact the driver and check whether the bag has been found. I can provide further details about the journey, including the pickup location and the approximate time, if necessary. Please let me know if you have any information regarding my lost bag.

Thank you for your time and assistance. I look forward to hearing from you soon.

Yours faithfully,

Vp

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 9.0

The response fully addresses all three bullet points of the task. You clearly explained how the bag was lost, provided a detailed description of the item, and included a polite request for assistance. The tone is consistently appropriate for a formal letter to a company manager. The ideas are well-developed and the purpose of the letter is clear from the outset. There are no omissions, and the information provided is relevant and sufficient to allow the taxi company to take action.

Coherence and Cohesion — Band 9.0

The letter is logically organized with a clear progression of ideas. Each paragraph serves a distinct purpose: the first introduces the situation, the second provides the description, and the third makes the request. Cohesive devices such as 'About half an hour later' and 'if necessary' are used effectively to link ideas. The paragraphing is appropriate, and the transition between the explanation of the loss and the description of the bag is smooth and natural.

Lexical Resource — Band 7.5

You demonstrate a good range of vocabulary appropriate for the context of a formal complaint or inquiry. Phrases such as 'accidentally left', 'medium-sized', and 'very grateful' are used accurately. While the vocabulary is functional and clear, it is generally standard. To reach the highest bands, you could incorporate slightly more sophisticated collocations or precise descriptive adjectives, though the current range is more than sufficient to convey your message clearly and professionally.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 9.0

The grammar is highly accurate throughout the letter. You use a variety of sentence structures, including complex sentences such as 'I would be very grateful if you could contact the driver and check whether the bag has been found.' Punctuation is used correctly, and there are no noticeable errors in tense or agreement. The control over grammatical structures is consistent, and the writing is error-free, which reflects a high level of proficiency.

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

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