Band 6.5 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 6.5 · Barron's Writing · 2026-08-16

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 6.5)

Dear Sir or Madam,

I am writing to inquire about my bag, which I lost yesterday while travelling with one of your taxi.

Yesterday, I travelled from the airport to my home in the evening around 6 pm. I booked the taxi from your website. The booking reference number is CX6385. I was in hurry because I had an urgent virtual meeting at my house. Hence, I forgot the my bag in the taxi. When I reached home, I was searching for my laptop. Suddenly, I realized that I left my bag in the taxi.

The bag was in dark brown color and square in shape. One black big zip on top of the bag. Moreover, inside the bag one laptop, mobile charger and important documents including my passport and driving license I have left, which is very necessary.

I would appreciate it if you could find the taxi driver and send me to my house. Alternatively, I can come to your office and collect it. I am attaching the receipt of my ride.

I am looking to see your response. Let me know you require more information.

Yours faithfully,

Darshit

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 7.5

The letter successfully addresses all three bullet points: explaining the loss, describing the bag, and requesting assistance. The tone is appropriate for a formal letter to a company manager. The purpose is clear from the start, and the inclusion of the booking reference number adds a realistic touch that helps the reader understand the context. The ideas are relevant and sufficiently developed to meet the requirements of the task. There are no omissions, and the information provided is logical and easy to follow throughout the correspondence.

Coherence and Cohesion — Band 7.0

The letter is well-organized with a clear structure. Each paragraph serves a distinct purpose, moving logically from the introduction to the description of the items and finally the call to action. Cohesive devices such as 'Moreover', 'Hence', and 'Alternatively' are used to link ideas, although some transitions feel slightly mechanical. The paragraphing is appropriate for a formal letter. The progression of ideas is smooth, and the reader can easily follow the narrative of the event and the subsequent request for help.

Lexical Resource — Band 6.0

The vocabulary is generally adequate for the task, allowing for clear communication. There are some minor inaccuracies in word choice, such as 'I was in hurry' (should be 'in a hurry') and 'send me to my house' (which sounds like the writer wants to be transported rather than the bag). The description of the bag is functional, though it could be more precise. The range of vocabulary is sufficient to convey the necessary information, but it lacks the sophistication or idiomatic control required for higher band scores.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 6.0

The response uses a mix of simple and complex sentence structures. However, there are several grammatical errors that occur throughout the text, such as 'travelling with one of your taxi' (should be 'taxis'), 'forgot the my bag' (unnecessary article), and 'inside the bag one laptop... I have left' (awkward syntax). While these errors do not impede communication, they are frequent enough to prevent a higher score. Punctuation is generally correct, but the sentence structure occasionally feels slightly disjointed due to the grammatical slips.

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

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