Band 6.0 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 6.0 · Barron's Writing · 2026-08-29

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 6.0)

Dear Sir,

I am writing this letter to you regarding the hand bag that i left in the taxi yesterday, I get off from work at 5pm and I booked a taxi from my phone. The confirmation number was 5786. I was sitting on the l right back side of the car. I put the bag beside me. As i reached to the destination, I forget to grab my bag. Because, my hands were full.

It is a small hand bag from Aldo company, in black colour. It has golden chains on the top. It has a barbie doll key chain as well.

I hope you can help me to find it, because this bag is so close to me and it contains some of my personal items. I would be happy to provide you further information about the item. I am looking forward to your response.

Best regards,

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 5.5

The letter addresses all three bullet points: explaining how the bag was lost, describing the bag, and requesting assistance. However, the response falls just short of the 150-word minimum requirement, which negatively impacts the score. While the ideas are relevant, they are somewhat brief and could have been expanded with more detail—for instance, providing the time of the journey or specific landmarks to help the driver locate the item. The tone is generally appropriate for a formal letter, though the opening 'Dear Sir' is slightly abrupt given the prompt provided 'Dear Sir or Madam'.

Coherence and Cohesion — Band 6.0

The letter is organized into logical paragraphs, with each focusing on a specific part of the task. The progression of ideas is clear, moving from the incident to the description and finally the request. However, the use of cohesive devices is somewhat mechanical and limited. For example, the transition 'Because, my hands were full' is grammatically fragmented and disrupts the flow. Using more sophisticated linking words or phrases to connect the cause of the loss with the subsequent actions would improve the overall coherence of the letter.

Lexical Resource — Band 6.0

The vocabulary is adequate for the task but lacks variety and precision. The student uses basic descriptors such as 'small', 'black', and 'golden'. While these communicate the message effectively, they do not demonstrate a wide range of vocabulary. There are also minor issues with word choice, such as 'close to me' (meaning sentimental value) and 'grab my bag'. To reach a higher band, the student should incorporate more precise adjectives and collocations related to lost property and formal correspondence.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 5.5

The writing contains several grammatical errors that affect the quality of the text. There are issues with verb tense consistency ('I get off' instead of 'I got off', 'I forget' instead of 'I forgot') and punctuation, particularly the comma splice in the first paragraph. The sentence structures are mostly simple, with limited use of complex sentences. While the meaning remains clear throughout, the frequency of these errors and the lack of structural variety prevent a higher score. Focusing on consistent tense usage and sentence combining would be beneficial.

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

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