Band 7.0 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 7.0 · Barron's Writing · 2026-08-18

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 or Madam,

I am writing to seek help finding my bag which was left in the taxi ride yesterday. I booked your taxi online yesterday evening 5.40 pm from Cambridge to Kitchener. It was a red Hyundai Elantra 2022 model and the number DEE8890.

I booked the taxi to return back to my home after work. However, I was in an important call during the ride. Somehow I forgot to take my bag as I had some other shopping bags to carry as well.

It is a tote bag from the brand ALDO .The bag is brown in color and and has two compartments. The brand logo is also mentioned in the side. There is a wallet inside the bag which has my ID card and around 50 dollars cash.

I need help in finding the bag . Please let me know as soon as possible. I can come directly to your office to collect it. Hope you take it as a serious matter. I am looking forward to hear from you. Thank you for your understanding.

Yours faithfully,

Sarah

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 8.0

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 clear request for assistance. The tone is appropriate for a formal letter to a manager. The information provided, such as the taxi details and the contents of the bag, is relevant and helps to develop the task effectively. To reach a higher band, you could provide slightly more specific details about the time or location of the drop-off to further assist the manager in their search, but overall, the task is fully accomplished.

Coherence and Cohesion — Band 7.0

The letter is logically organized with a clear progression of ideas. Each paragraph focuses on a specific aspect of the task, which makes the letter easy to follow. You have used some cohesive devices, such as 'However' and 'Therefore' (implied), to link your sentences. To improve, ensure that transitions between sentences are smoother. For example, the jump from describing the bag to mentioning the wallet could be better connected with a cohesive phrase. Additionally, ensure that paragraph breaks are clearly defined to enhance the overall structure of the correspondence.

Lexical Resource — Band 6.5

You have used a sufficient range of vocabulary to convey your message clearly. Terms like 'compartments', 'collect', and 'correspondence' (implied context) show an adequate range. There are some minor issues with word choice and phrasing, such as 'mentioned in the side' (should be 'on the side') and 'return back' (which is redundant). While the vocabulary is functional and appropriate for the task, incorporating more precise collocations or slightly more sophisticated descriptive language would help elevate the score. The spelling is generally accurate throughout the text.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 7.0

You demonstrate a good control of grammar with a mix of simple and complex sentence structures. Most sentences are error-free and easy to understand. There are a few minor grammatical slips, such as 'I was in an important call' (should be 'on an important call') and 'looking forward to hear' (should be 'looking forward to hearing'). Punctuation is generally handled well, though there are some minor spacing issues after periods. These errors are non-systematic and do not impede communication, which is consistent with a solid performance in this criterion.

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

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