Band 8.0 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 8.0 · Barron's Writing · 2026-08-11

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 to ask for your help in finding a bag that I accidentally left in one of your taxis yesterday.

I took a taxi from the city centre to my home at around 7:30 p.m. yesterday. When I arrived home, I realized that I had left my bag on the back seat of the taxi. Unfortunately, I do not remember the taxi number, but I booked the taxi through your company and can provide the details of my journey if necessary.

The bag is a medium-sized black backpack with a small red logo on the front. It contains some clothes, a book, my wallet, and a pair of sunglasses. There is also a small name tag with my contact details inside the bag.

I would be very grateful if you could check whether the driver has found my bag and contact me if it has been handed in. I would also appreciate it if you could ask the driver to check the back seat of the taxi.

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

Yours faithfully,

Chris

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 8.0

The response fully addresses all three bullet points in the prompt. You clearly explained how the bag was lost, provided a detailed description of the item, and made a polite request for assistance. The tone is consistently appropriate for a formal letter to a company manager. The purpose of the letter is clear from the outset, and all requirements are met with sufficient detail to allow the reader to take action, such as mentioning the booking details and the contents of the bag.

Coherence and Cohesion — Band 8.0

The letter is well-organized with a logical progression of ideas. Each paragraph focuses on a specific aspect of the task, which makes the information easy to follow. You have used cohesive devices such as 'Unfortunately', 'In addition', and 'I would be very grateful if' effectively to link sentences and paragraphs. The structure is clear, and the use of paragraphing is appropriate for a formal letter, ensuring that the flow of information is smooth and coherent throughout.

Lexical Resource — Band 7.0

The vocabulary is natural and appropriate for the context of a formal complaint or inquiry. You have used precise terms such as 'city centre', 'contact details', and 'assistance'. While the vocabulary is functional and accurate, it stays within a standard range. To reach a higher band, you could incorporate slightly more sophisticated collocations or nuanced expressions, but the current range is more than adequate to convey your message clearly and professionally without any errors in word choice.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 8.0

The grammar is highly accurate, with a variety of sentence structures used correctly. You have successfully employed complex sentences, such as 'I would be very grateful if you could check whether the driver has found my bag', which demonstrates good control over subordinate clauses. Punctuation is used correctly throughout, and there are no noticeable grammatical errors. The writing is fluent and error-free, reflecting a high level of grammatical competence suitable for this task.

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

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