Band 7.5 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 7.5 · 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 7.5)

Dear Sir or Madam,

I am writing to lodge a complaint for a missing laptop bag. I rode in a taxi yesterday from Martin Grove Road to Finch Avenue West at around 6:30 PM. I was sitting on a passanger seat at the back, I realised that I did not have my work bag, when I was looking for my work laptop to complete my task.

Firstly, it was a black coloured laptop bag. It has a CRH Canada labelled with white color. Secondly, I have my work laptop, office phone and confidential project documents with my personal medications in the bag. The bag is quite light to carry with red ribbon attached with shoulder strip for identification.

Therefore, I would like you to request an immediate action to find my bag and contact the driver who dropped me. I am attaching my travel details with accurate time and vehicle number to speed up the process. Should you require more details, I am happy to assist you.

I look forward to receiving positive message from you.

Kind regards,

Ravi.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 8.0

The letter successfully covers all three bullet points required by the prompt. You clearly explained the circumstances of losing the bag, provided a detailed description of the item, and included a polite request for assistance. The tone is appropriate for a formal letter to a company manager. The ideas are well-developed, and the purpose of the letter is clear from the outset. You have effectively provided the necessary information, such as the route and time, which helps the reader understand the situation. The response is well-structured and fulfills the requirements of the task.

Coherence and Cohesion — Band 7.5

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 appropriate paragraphing and transition words like 'Firstly', 'Secondly', and 'Therefore' to connect your thoughts. The use of cohesive devices is generally effective, though some transitions could be more varied to improve the flow. Overall, the information is presented in a coherent manner, and the referencing is clear throughout the text.

Lexical Resource — Band 7.0

You have used a sufficient range of vocabulary to convey your message clearly. Terms like 'lodge a complaint', 'confidential project documents', and 'identification' are appropriate for this formal context. There are a few minor word choice issues, such as 'passanger' (spelling) and 'labelled with white color' (awkward phrasing). However, these do not impede communication. To reach a higher band, you could incorporate more precise collocations or slightly more sophisticated vocabulary to describe the bag and the situation.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 7.0

The letter demonstrates a good mix of simple and complex sentence structures. Most sentences are accurate and easy to understand. There are some minor grammatical slips, such as 'I have my work laptop... in the bag' (tense inconsistency, as the bag is lost) and 'red ribbon attached with shoulder strip' (missing articles). Punctuation is generally handled well, though there is a comma splice in the first paragraph ('...at the back, I realised...'). Despite these occasional errors, your control of grammar is strong enough to ensure that the meaning is never obscured.

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

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