Band 5.5 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 5.5 · Barron's Writing · 2026-08-24

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,

Dear Sir,

My name is maryAnn, I was take a taxi from your company yesterday night. I really enjoyed that trip from 775 millestone Avenue to Ladysmith. On that way I forgot to pick up my bag from the back car seat.

my bag looking so beautiful black leather and one golden long chain included in the front. Inside a small pink wallet and my private propables included. One of my favourite bag is that. If you have any doubt there is one BC ID also available inside my wallet.

please help me to find my bag. The driver looking brown hair and looking so handsome. Inside car my catched in rosary in the front. I will mention the car number BC 18467. If you need more information, please let me know, and I will expect your call as soon as possible.

Thank you

Regards

MaryAnn, m.b: [redacted phone]<

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 6.0

The letter addresses all three bullet points: explaining how the bag was lost, describing the bag, and requesting assistance. The tone is generally appropriate for a formal letter, although the opening is repetitive. The ideas are relevant, but the description of the bag and the circumstances of the loss could be more precise to ensure the manager can effectively assist in locating the item. While the task is fulfilled, the development of ideas is somewhat basic, and the inclusion of irrelevant details, such as the driver's appearance, detracts slightly from the focus of the request.

Coherence and Cohesion — Band 6.0

The letter is organized into logical paragraphs, which helps the reader follow the narrative. However, the use of cohesive devices is limited and sometimes mechanical. For example, the transition between the description of the bag and the request for help is abrupt. The referencing is occasionally unclear, such as in the sentence 'Inside a small pink wallet and my private propables included,' which lacks a clear subject-verb structure. While the overall progression is coherent, the lack of varied linking words makes the flow feel somewhat disjointed.

Lexical Resource — Band 5.5

The vocabulary is adequate for the task but lacks variety and precision. There are several instances of awkward phrasing, such as 'my private propables' (likely meaning 'possessions' or 'valuables') and 'my catched in rosary'. The word choice is often repetitive, and the student struggles with collocations, such as 'I was take a taxi' instead of 'I took a taxi'. While the message is understandable, the limited range of vocabulary and the errors in word choice prevent a higher score.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 5.0

The writing contains frequent grammatical errors that occasionally impede clarity. There are issues with verb tense consistency ('I was take a taxi'), article usage, and sentence structure ('my bag looking so beautiful'). Many sentences are simple, and attempts at more complex structures are often faulty, such as the fragmented sentence 'Inside a small pink wallet and my private propables included.' Punctuation is also inconsistent, particularly with capitalization and the use of commas. These errors are frequent and noticeable throughout the text.

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

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