Band 5.0 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 5.0 · Barron's Writing · 2026-08-15

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 5.0)

Dear sir

I booked your taxi yesterday and when u dropoff me then i realized i forgot my bag in your taxi. its very important for me because my laptop in this bag and also my important paper i was keep in this bag.

Its colour is black, and the company name is Gucci. Two big zippers on top and side pockets. I keep my water bottle in the left side pocket.

When u will find it, please inform me as soon as possible. I urgently need it. Here is my contact number: [redacted phone].

your sincireally,

avtar gill

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 5.0

The letter covers all three bullet points: explaining the loss, describing the bag, and requesting assistance. However, the response is significantly under the 150-word minimum requirement, which severely limits the development of ideas. The tone is somewhat informal for a formal letter to a manager (e.g., 'u dropoff me'). To improve, you must expand on the details—such as the time of the ride, the taxi number, or the route taken—to meet the length requirement and provide a more professional, comprehensive account of the incident.

Coherence and Cohesion — Band 5.5

The letter is organized into short paragraphs, which helps the reader follow the narrative. However, the flow is somewhat disjointed due to the brevity of the sentences. There is a lack of cohesive devices to link ideas smoothly; for example, the transition between describing the bag and asking for help is abrupt. Using linking words like 'consequently,' 'furthermore,' or 'in addition' would help create a more professional and logical progression of information throughout the letter.

Lexical Resource — Band 5.0

The vocabulary is basic and repetitive, relying on simple descriptors like 'important' and 'big.' There are also issues with word choice and collocation, such as 'i was keep in this bag' instead of 'I kept in this bag.' The informal use of 'u' instead of 'you' is inappropriate for a formal letter. To reach a higher band, you should incorporate more precise vocabulary related to travel and lost property, such as 'misplaced,' 'belongings,' or 'retrieve.'

Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 5.0

The grammar contains frequent errors that occasionally impede clarity, such as 'when u dropoff me' and 'my important paper i was keep in this bag.' There is a lack of complex sentence structures, and the punctuation is inconsistent, particularly with capitalization. The use of 'When u will find it' is grammatically incorrect; it should be 'If you find it.' To improve, focus on subject-verb agreement, consistent verb tenses, and using a wider variety of sentence structures, including complex sentences with subordinate clauses.

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

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