Band 7.5 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 7.5 · Barron's Writing · 2026-10-17

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 7.5)

Dear Sir or Madam,

I am writing to bring to your attention a serious issue. Yesterday, while travelling from Toronto to Niagara for an important client meeting, I forgot my office bag in one of the taxis of your company. The driver's name was Ravi, and it was a blue Toyota SUV, 2023 model.

I was already running late for the meeting yesterday, October 17th, around 5 PM. While rushing to leave the car, I forgot to grab the bag from the back seat. Until I realised the loss, the taxi driver had left the location.

I will provide you with a brief description of the lost bag. It is a brown coloured lather bag. It has a laptop and my office ID cards inside, if you want to verify my identity. The bag has the initials of my name on the side pocket. I also forgot my wallet inside the bag, with all of my ID cards and credit cards.

I would be really grateful if you can please track the taxi for me using the details provided above. I need my bag to be returned to me as soon as possible, as it has my wallet with all my ID cards and my office laptop. I do not want any of my confidential information to be compromised.

I look forward to hearing from you soon, and I strongly believe you would take prompt action.

Yours sincerely,

Navaljot.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response: Band 8.5

The letter fully addresses the three requested points: it explains that you left the bag on the back seat while rushing from the taxi, gives identifying details about the vehicle and bag, and clearly asks the manager to track the taxi and help return it. The added information about the laptop, wallet, and confidential material makes the request persuasive and well supported. The purpose and appropriately formal tone are clear throughout. To make the response even more complete, specify a practical way for the company to contact you or arrange the bag’s return; the current request is clear, but no contact details or preferred next step are provided.

Coherence and Cohesion: Band 7.5

The information follows a clear, useful sequence: the opening states the purpose, the next paragraph explains the loss, and later paragraphs describe the bag and request assistance. Paragraphing helps the reader locate each part of the message, and links such as “Until I realised the loss” and “I look forward to hearing from you soon” support progression. Some details are repeated, particularly the wallet and identification cards, and the final paragraph restates the urgency already conveyed. Streamlining these repetitions and using a more direct transition between the bag description and the request would make cohesion feel more flexible and less reliant on repeated information.

Lexical Resource: Band 7.0

You use a sufficient range of vocabulary to communicate the situation precisely, including “client meeting,” “verify my identity,” “track the taxi,” and “confidential information.” These choices suit a formal complaint or enquiry, and the reader can understand the details without difficulty. There are occasional inaccuracies in word choice and collocation: “lather bag” appears to mean “leather bag,” and “bring to your attention a serious issue” sounds stronger than necessary for a lost-property enquiry. “Office bag” is understandable but could be more specific. Aim for natural, precise phrasing throughout, especially when describing the item and the action you want the company to take.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy: Band 7.5

The letter includes a useful mix of sentence forms, including the complex time clause “While rushing to leave the car, I forgot to grab the bag” and the conditional phrase “if you want to verify my identity.” Many sentences are controlled and easy to follow, and punctuation generally supports the meaning. A few grammatical choices remain less natural: “if you can please track” combines two polite forms awkwardly, while “Until I realised the loss, the taxi driver had left” uses an unsuitable time relationship. The sentence beginning “It has a laptop and my office ID cards inside” also has a slightly unclear structure. Review clause relationships and keep requests grammatically direct, for example, “I would be grateful if you could track the taxi.”

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