Band 5.5 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 5.5 · 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 5.5)

Dear sir/madam

I am writing this letter because last night i forget my bag in your taxi.

I travel last night (saturday ) in your taxi from city to my home .Unfortunately i forgot my bag at last seat of the car. Actually at the time off drop off i am on the call so that’s why i did not give much attention ,but when i reach home than i realised.

My bag colour is black and it is not big bag it is same size as kit bag . And i had pokemon keychain with it . It have 2 zipps and one strip. I had some money and very important documnet in it specially my driving license

I have humble request if u get my bag plz give me location and i will reach out it . I also call your customer service but the did not respond welll

I look forward to hearing from you

Your sincerely

Gurshan singh

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 6.0

The letter covers 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 language is quite informal in places (e.g., 'plz', 'u'). The ideas are relevant and clearly presented, though the development of the description could be more precise. For instance, mentioning the specific contents is helpful, but the overall structure is slightly disjointed. To reach a higher band, ensure that the tone remains consistently formal throughout the entire letter and avoid abbreviations.

Coherence and Cohesion — Band 6.0

The letter is organized into paragraphs, which helps the reader follow the narrative. However, the use of cohesive devices is quite limited and sometimes mechanical. For example, the transition between the description of the bag and the request for help is abrupt. There is a lack of varied linking words to connect ideas smoothly. While the progression of the letter is logical, the overall flow is hindered by the repetitive sentence structure and the lack of sophisticated transitions between sentences and paragraphs.

Lexical Resource — Band 5.5

The vocabulary is sufficient for the task but remains basic. There are several spelling errors, such as 'documnet', 'zipps', and 'strip' (likely meaning 'strap'), which detract from the professional quality of the letter. The use of 'plz' and 'u' is inappropriate for a formal request to a manager. While the student successfully conveys the necessary information, the range of vocabulary is narrow and lacks the precision or variety expected at higher bands. Improving spelling and using more formal, precise terminology would significantly enhance this score.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 5.0

There are frequent grammatical errors throughout the text, including tense inconsistencies ('i forget' instead of 'I forgot', 'I travel' instead of 'I traveled') and punctuation issues (missing capital letters for 'I', incorrect spacing). The sentence structures are mostly simple, with limited attempts at complex sentences. While the meaning is generally clear, the high frequency of errors in basic grammar and punctuation makes the writing feel unpolished. To improve, focus on subject-verb agreement, consistent verb tenses, and standard capitalization rules.

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

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