Band 8.0 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 8.0 · Barron's Writing · 2026-09-30

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 8.0)

Dear Manager,

I am writing to report a bag that I accidentally left in one of your taxis yesterday and to request your assistance in locating it.

Yesterday, at approximately 6:30 p.m., I took a taxi from the downtown area to my home. When I arrived, I paid the driver and got out of the taxi. However, after reaching my house, I realized that I had left my bag on the back seat. Unfortunately, I do not remember the taxi number, but I booked the ride through your company’s mobile application.

The bag is a medium-sized black backpack with a grey front pocket and a small red keychain attached to the zipper. It contains some clothes, a notebook, and a pair of headphones. There is also a name tag with my contact information inside the front pocket.

I would greatly appreciate it if you could check your lost-and-found records and contact the driver who completed my trip. If the bag has been found, please let me know how I can collect it. I am happy to provide the exact pickup and drop-off locations to help identify the trip.

Thank you for your assistance. I look forward to hearing from you soon.

Yours sincerely,

Nehal

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response: Band 8.0

The student has successfully covered all three bullet points required in the task instructions. First, the letter clearly explains how the bag was lost by detailing the time, the journey from the downtown area home, and how it was left on the back seat. Second, the bag is vividly described as a medium-sized black backpack with a grey front pocket, a small red keychain, and specific contents such as clothes, a notebook, and headphones. Third, the writer explicitly asks the manager for help by requesting that they check lost-and-found records and contact the driver. The tone is appropriately formal for a business letter, and the purpose is sustained clearly throughout. The response fully satisfies all requirements of Task Achievement.

Coherence and Cohesion: Band 8.0

The letter demonstrates a clear and logical progression of ideas. Each paragraph serves a distinct purpose: the introduction states the purpose of the letter, the second paragraph explains the loss, the third describes the item, and the fourth outlines the request for assistance, concluding with a polite sign-off. Cohesive devices such as 'However', 'Unfortunately', and 'There is also' are used naturally and effectively without being obtrusive. Paragraphing is handled very well, and referencing throughout the text remains clear, ensuring the reader can easily follow the narrative and requests.

Lexical Resource: Band 7.0

The student utilizes a sufficient and natural range of vocabulary relevant to the context of travel and lost property. Phrases like 'at approximately 6:30 p.m.', 'locating it', 'mobile application', and 'lost-and-found records' show good command of appropriate collocations. While the vocabulary is not overly complex, it is used accurately and precisely to convey meaning without any noticeable errors. The register is consistently formal and polite, fitting the requirements of a formal correspondence to a company manager.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy: Band 8.0

The response features a very strong control of grammar and punctuation, utilizing a healthy mix of simple and complex sentence structures. Examples such as 'When I arrived, I paid the driver and got out of the taxi' and 'I would greatly appreciate it if you could check your lost-and-found records' demonstrate accurate use of subordinate clauses and conditional structures. The majority of sentences are completely error-free, and punctuation is handled correctly throughout. The grammatical control displayed is consistent with a high band score.

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