Band 5.5 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 5.5 · Barron's Writing · 2026-08-23

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 5.5)

Dear Sir.

I am writing to inform you about i rode in your taxi yesterday.

I lost my bag in the taxi.

I have so many products. when i got my home , i completely forget about my bag. when i searched about my phone then i realized oh i forget my bag in the taxi.

My bag is big n size it has black and white lines. it is luxouries bag for me tommy hilfigre

It has mini keyring also contains my family photo. I have my important documents include such as passport, adhar card, my credit card, insurance and son on, plenty of money also.

I am very anxious right now. I dont even remember the taxi number.

Please help me in find my bag. I will be very thankful for you. I believe that you will help me. I know its my silly mistake, but if you can help me please find a way.

Thank you.

Emily

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 6.0

The letter addresses all three bullet points: explaining the loss, describing the bag, and requesting assistance. However, the development of these points is somewhat limited. The description of the bag is functional but lacks a formal tone appropriate for a letter to a manager. The explanation of how the bag was lost is clear, but the request for help is repetitive. To improve, you should ensure the tone is consistently formal and provide more specific details, such as the time of the journey or the route taken, to help the manager locate the item more effectively.

Coherence and Cohesion — Band 5.5

The letter is organized into a single block of text, which makes it difficult to follow. You should use clear paragraph breaks to separate the introduction, the description of the bag, and the conclusion. While there is a logical progression of ideas, the use of cohesive devices is very limited. Phrases like 'I am writing to inform you' are a good start, but the transition between sentences is often abrupt. Using linking words such as 'furthermore,' 'consequently,' or 'additionally' would help improve the flow and make the letter more professional.

Lexical Resource — Band 5.0

The vocabulary is basic and contains several errors in word choice and spelling, such as 'luxouries' instead of 'luxurious' and 'adhar card' (Aadhaar card). There is also a reliance on simple, repetitive language. While the meaning is generally clear, the lack of precision and the presence of spelling errors hinder the overall quality. To reach a higher band, you should focus on using more precise vocabulary related to travel and personal belongings, and ensure you proofread your work to correct common spelling mistakes.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 5.0

The response relies heavily on simple sentence structures. There are frequent grammatical errors, including issues with verb tense ('i rode' instead of 'I rode'), missing articles, and incorrect punctuation. For example, 'when i got my home' should be 'when I got home,' and 'i completely forget' should be 'I completely forgot.' The lack of capitalization for the pronoun 'I' is a consistent error throughout the text. To improve, you should practice using a mix of complex sentence structures and pay closer attention to basic grammar rules, especially subject-verb agreement and capitalization.

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

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