Band 7.0 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 7.0 · Barron's Writing · 2026-08-17

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 7.0)

Dear Sir,

I hope this letter finds you in great spirits. I am writing to request the return of my handbag that I left in one of the cars yesterday. I booked a taxi from Yango last night and I mistakenly left my handbag in it. The car number was ALE 432 and the driver's name was Abdul. I was coming from Xinhua shopping mall and I was carrying too many shopping bags. During the ride, I presume my bag fell on the car's floor and I did not happen to notice it.

It is a medium-sized Chanel handbag. It is Black in color and it has a Chanel logo in front of it. It has a long leather strap and I have all my cards in it.

I would be really thankful if you would ask the driver to check the car's back seat and the floor. It is highly likely that the driver has already noticed the bag and has it in his custody.

I am attaching my address and phone number with this letter. It would be a great favor if you can return my bag to the attached address.

Yours sincerely,

Malika

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 7.5

The letter successfully addresses all three bullet points of the prompt. 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 appropriate for a formal letter to a manager, and the purpose of the correspondence is clear from the outset. The inclusion of specific details like the car number and driver's name adds authenticity and helps the reader resolve the issue efficiently. All requirements of the task have been met in a professional and relevant manner.

Coherence and Cohesion — Band 7.5

The letter is well-organized with a logical progression of ideas. Each paragraph serves a distinct purpose: the introduction states the purpose, the body paragraphs provide the necessary details, and the conclusion offers a call to action. You have used cohesive devices effectively, such as 'During the ride' and 'It is highly likely,' which help the text flow smoothly. The paragraphing is appropriate, and the transition between the description of the bag and the request for help is seamless. The overall structure is clear and easy to follow.

Lexical Resource — Band 6.5

You have used a sufficient range of vocabulary to convey your message clearly. Words like 'mistakenly,' 'presume,' 'custody,' and 'attached' are used correctly and fit the formal context well. While the vocabulary is functional and accurate, it is generally standard. To reach a higher band, you could incorporate more sophisticated collocations or less common lexical items. For instance, instead of 'I have all my cards in it,' you could use 'It contains my personal identification and essential bank cards.' Overall, the lexical range is adequate and precise enough for this task.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 7.0

The letter demonstrates a good control of grammar with a mix of simple and complex sentence structures. Most sentences are error-free, and the punctuation is generally accurate. There are a few minor areas for improvement, such as the capitalization of 'Black' in the middle of a sentence, which should be lowercase. Additionally, 'I did not happen to notice it' is slightly wordy; 'I failed to notice it' would be more concise. Despite these minor slips, the grammatical control is strong, and the meaning is never obscured by errors.

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

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