Band 6.5 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 6.5 · Barron's Writing · 2026-10-08

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 6.5)

Dear Sir,

Hope you are doing well. I am writing this letter in the context to file a lost and found complaint for my bag. Yesterday I bookeed yellow cabs and the model was Tesla-DE09098E8 for the trip from Vancouver granville street to surrey scott road, I was in rush to reach home and forgot my bag in the cab while getting off.

The bag is black in colour with small red keychain and having my important documents along with identity proofs and the compass card as well. It also contains some cash along with 2 passport size photographs of mine and some medicines.

I would like to request you to please help me to find the bag and keep me updated by email or contact on [redacted phone]. Please note that all the documents are necessary and important to me.

Your support will be really appriciated.

Yours faithfully

Akanksha

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response: Band 7.5

The letter addresses all three requirements: it explains that you left the bag behind while getting out in a hurry, describes its colour and identifying details, and asks the manager to help locate it and contact you. The taxi model/identifier, route, contents, and phone number make the request specific and useful. The purpose is clear throughout, and the polite closing suits a formal letter. To strengthen the response further, develop the request with a practical detail, such as asking the company to check with the driver or explaining when you are available to collect the bag. The description of the bag is relevant, though the contents receive more detail than its size or style.

Coherence and Cohesion: Band 7.0

The information is arranged in a clear sequence: the opening explains the incident, the next paragraph describes the bag, and the final paragraph requests assistance and provides contact details. This paragraphing helps the reader follow the purpose without difficulty. Linking is generally straightforward and appropriate, particularly the movement from the journey details to the bag’s contents. Some connections within sentences are less smooth, however; for example, “The bag is black in colour with small red keychain and having…” combines details in an awkward structure. A more controlled sentence pattern and a brief transition into the request would make the progression feel more polished and cohesive.

Lexical Resource: Band 6.0

You use an adequate range of vocabulary for a lost-property letter, including “identity proofs,” “compass card,” “medicines,” and “keep me updated.” Specific details help communicate the situation, and the meaning remains clear despite some inaccurate or unnatural choices. Phrases such as “in the context to file a lost and found complaint” and “2 passport size photographs of mine” are not idiomatic in this context; “to report a lost item” and “two passport-sized photographs” would be more natural. There are also spelling errors, including “bookeed” and “appriciated.” Check spelling and collocations carefully, and prefer concise, conventional wording in formal correspondence.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy: Band 6.0

The letter includes both simple statements and longer sentences, such as the sentence explaining the journey and how the bag was left behind. The main events and request are understandable, and some sentence forms are controlled. However, some errors in verb forms, articles, and sentence construction remain. For example, “Yesterday I bookeed” needs a past-tense verb (“booked”), while “with small red keychain” needs an article (“with a small red keychain”). The phrase “and having my important documents” does not fit grammatically with “The bag is”; use “and it contains” or “which contains.” Aim to vary sentence structures while checking that each clause has a clear, correctly formed subject and verb.

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