Band 5.5 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 5.5 · Barron's Writing · 2026-08-31

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,

Hope you are doing well.

I am writing this email you to let you know that I left My black colour Puma bag in the car when I was in the ride. The car number was CTZ-5180

And I took ride from Edmonton International Airport to Clareview station.

Apart from that, in that bag I had my Important documents like Passport, driving licence and study documents and so on. So, it’s my request to ask from the driver for that bag. Please, let me know when it will be possible to give my bag or from where to pick it. Feel free to email me or contact on phone number [redacted phone].

I need that bag as soon as it is possible as I have to travel again on next week for my business.

Thank you so much for your attention to this email,

Himanshu

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 5.5

The letter covers all three bullet points: explaining the loss, describing the bag, and requesting assistance. However, the response is slightly under the 150-word minimum, which impacts the score. While the purpose is clear, the development of ideas is somewhat brief. For instance, the description of the bag is limited to 'black colour Puma bag', which could be expanded to include size, material, or distinguishing features to better assist the manager. To improve, ensure you meet the word count requirement and provide more descriptive detail to fully address the prompt's requirements.

Coherence and Cohesion — Band 6.0

The letter follows a logical progression, moving from the incident to the description and finally the request for action. Paragraphing is present, though the structure is somewhat fragmented due to the short length of the sentences. Cohesive devices are used, such as 'Apart from that' and 'So', but the flow is occasionally mechanical. To reach a higher band, focus on using a wider variety of linking words and ensuring that sentences are connected more fluidly to create a more cohesive narrative.

Lexical Resource — Band 5.5

The vocabulary is adequate for the task but lacks variety and precision. Phrases like 'took ride' and 'give my bag' are functional but basic. There are some minor errors in word choice, such as 'contact on phone number', which should be 'contact me at'. The range of vocabulary is limited, and there is little attempt to use less common or more sophisticated lexical items. To improve, try to incorporate more descriptive adjectives and formal business terminology appropriate for a letter to a manager.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 5.5

The response contains a mix of simple and some complex sentence structures. There are several grammatical errors, such as 'I am writing this email you' (missing 'to'), 'black colour Puma bag' (should be 'black-coloured'), and 'on next week' (should be 'next week'). Punctuation is generally functional, but the overall control of grammar is inconsistent. While the meaning is clear, the frequency of these minor errors prevents a higher score. Focus on subject-verb agreement and correct preposition usage to improve accuracy.

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

Browse more IELTS Writing model answers or get your own writing scored by the same AI examiner.