Band 6.0 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 6.0 · Barron's Writing · 2026-08-09

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 6.0)

Dear sir or Madam,

I am writing this letter to inform you that yesterday I booked your taxi service to go to my home, and unfortunately I forgot my bag on taxi seat.

Actually, while I was on my way to home in taxi I was discussing some important things related to my work in the office. And I was so much involved in the conversation. Additionally, my family also desperately waiting for me since long time, therefore, I was in a rush to get home.

When taxi driver dropped me to my home, I immediately went inside and apologized my family for being late. As I went to my bedroom and I was changing my clothes I realized that I forgot my office bag in taxi and I was not aware of that.

I would really appreciate if you can contact the taxi driver and inquire about my bag. It is really important for me because I have some crucial files inside the bag. I undestand that it was my negligence; however, I will be more cautious next time.

Thank you for your time and attention to this matter.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 6.0

You have addressed all three bullet points required by the prompt: explaining how the bag was lost, describing the bag, and requesting assistance. However, the description of the bag is significantly underdeveloped. You mention it is an 'office bag' with 'crucial files', but you fail to provide physical details such as color, size, material, or brand, which are essential for a lost property claim. To reach a higher band, ensure that each bullet point is fully extended with specific, relevant details. The tone is generally appropriate for a formal letter, though the lack of descriptive detail limits the effectiveness of the communication.

Coherence and Cohesion — Band 6.5

The letter is logically organized into clear paragraphs, each serving a specific purpose. You use some cohesive devices such as 'Additionally', 'When', and 'however' to link ideas. However, the flow is occasionally mechanical, and some transitions feel slightly repetitive. For instance, the transition between the second and third paragraphs could be smoother. The use of referencing is generally clear, but the overall progression of ideas could be improved by using a wider variety of linking words to connect your sentences more naturally rather than relying on simple conjunctions.

Lexical Resource — Band 6.0

You demonstrate an adequate range of vocabulary for the task, using words like 'negligence', 'inquire', and 'crucial'. However, there are some inaccuracies in collocation and word choice, such as 'forgot my bag on taxi seat' (should be 'in the taxi') and 'apologized my family' (should be 'apologized to my family'). While these errors do not impede communication, they indicate a need for more precise control over common English collocations. To improve, focus on learning phrases in context rather than individual words.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 6.0

You use a mix of simple and complex sentence structures, which is appropriate for this task. There are several grammatical errors, including missing articles ('in taxi' instead of 'in the taxi'), incorrect preposition usage, and minor tense inconsistencies. For example, 'my family also desperately waiting' is missing an auxiliary verb ('were'). While these errors are noticeable, they do not prevent the reader from understanding your message. To reach a higher band, focus on subject-verb agreement and the correct use of articles, which are currently the most frequent sources of error in your writing.

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

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