Band 6.0 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 6.0 · Barron's Writing · 2026-09-12

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/Madam

I am writing this letter regarding the bag that I lost in one of your taxis yesterday.

I was going to my university, and I was getting late for my class. I thought instead of going by walk , I should take a taxi. When I sat the taxi i had two bags in my hands: one for my assignment and one for my snacks. But in a hurry, I forgot my one bag in the taxi.

My bag is black in color, and it has pockets on both side. The shape of the bag is square. I have added some accessories on my bag. For example, small pink and white pearls.

I really thank full of your help, if you help me to find my bag as soon as possible, and that bag is expensive, and gifted by my late friend, I do not want to loose it.

yours faithfully

Prachi.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 6.5

The student has successfully covered all parts of the task prompt. The letter clearly explains how the bag was lost by mentioning the rush to university and taking a taxi. It adequately describes the bag, noting its black color, side pockets, square shape, and specific decorative accessories such as small pink and white pearls. Finally, it clearly asks the manager for help in finding the item and stresses its sentimental and financial value. The purpose of the letter is transparent and the tone is appropriate for a formal communication to a manager. Ideas are developed sufficiently to satisfy the requirements of a General Training Task 1 response.

Coherence and Cohesion — Band 6.0

The letter maintains a coherent overall arrangement with a clear beginning and ending. The logical progression is generally maintained as the narrative moves from the loss to the description and the final request. However, paragraphing is somewhat problematic; the body of the letter is compressed into only two large paragraphs containing multiple distinct ideas, which affects the visual structure. Cohesive devices are used simply, such as 'For example' and 'and', but referencing is occasionally loose, such as 'forgot my one bag'. Organization could be enhanced with better subdivision of ideas into distinct paragraphs.

Lexical Resource — Band 6.0

The student demonstrates an adequate range of vocabulary for the task, attempting some less common phrases such as 'sentimental' or descriptive features like 'square shape' and 'accessories'. There are some lexical inaccuracies and awkward collocations, such as 'getting late for my class' instead of running late, 'going by walk' instead of walking, and 'thank full' instead of thankful. Spelling errors like 'loose' instead of lose are also present. Nonetheless, these vocabulary and spelling errors do not impede communication, and the intended meaning remains clear throughout.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 5.5

The response features a mix of simple and complex sentence forms, such as conditional or concessive clauses ('I thought instead of going by walk, I should take a taxi' and 'if you help me to find my bag...'). There are noticeable grammatical errors and punctuation issues, including incorrect prepositions ('sat the taxi' instead of sat in the taxi), article omissions ('my one bag'), and run-on sentence structures, particularly in the fourth paragraph where multiple clauses are strung together with commas. While errors are frequent, they rarely impede overall comprehension.

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

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