Band 5.5 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 5.5 · Barron's Writing · 2026-10-21

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 or Madam,

I am writing this massive to inform you regarding the bag which i left in the taxi during my travel from airport to back home.

Firstly, i would love if you help me to find the bag since it was a gift from my father during my graduation day. I was seated on the front seat of the taxi however, the bag was placed at the backseat so that i could be seated comfortably.As i dropped at the airport i checked my luggage at the counter and therefore, one of my bag was missing.

Secondly, the bag consists of leather pattern with side pockets for cellphones and it is black in colour . Usually these bags are known as duffle bags for airport travellers.

kindly reqyesting you to find my bag from taxi lost and found department.

yours faithfully,

kent.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response: Band 5.5

You address the three requested points: you explain that the bag was left in the taxi, describe it as black and leather-patterned with side pockets, and ask the manager to help locate it. The detail that it was a graduation gift adds a personal reason for wanting it returned. However, the account of how it was lost is unclear: you say you travelled from the airport home, then write, “As i dropped at the airport,” which makes the sequence confusing. The request is also brief and does not give practical details such as the journey time, taxi identification, or contact information. The response is 144 words, so it does not meet the 150-word minimum. Develop the circumstances and make the request more specific.

Coherence and Cohesion: Band 6.0

The letter has a recognisable sequence, moving from the purpose of writing to the circumstances, the bag’s appearance, and a final request. “Firstly” and “Secondly” help signal the progression, and the reader can identify the main information. However, these transitions feel somewhat mechanical, and the paragraphing and spacing are inconsistent. The explanation of the journey is difficult to follow because the airport reference conflicts with the earlier statement that you travelled from the airport to home. The final request is also separated from the description without a clear closing paragraph. Group the journey details together, then describe the bag and make a direct request, using clearer links between these points.

Lexical Resource: Band 5.5

You use enough vocabulary to communicate the basic situation and description, including “graduation day,” “side pockets,” and “duffle bags.” These details make the letter more specific. However, several choices are inaccurate or unsuitable for a formal letter: “this massive” does not mean a message or letter, “i would love if you help” is an awkward expression, and “kindly reqyesting” contains a spelling error and an unnatural phrase. “Leather pattern” is also unclear as a description of the material or finish. Choose conventional formal expressions such as “I am writing to enquire about” and describe the bag precisely, for example, “a black leather duffel bag.” Check spelling and use natural collocations.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy: Band 5.5

You attempt both simple and more complex sentence forms, such as “I was seated on the front seat of the taxi however, the bag was placed at the backseat,” and the main message remains understandable. However, errors in sentence construction and punctuation sometimes make relationships between ideas unclear. In that example, “however” needs stronger punctuation, and the clauses should be separated or joined more carefully. The phrase “As i dropped at the airport” has an incorrect verb pattern, while “one of my bag was missing” has a number-agreement error. Capitalisation is also inconsistent, including lowercase “i” and “yours faithfully.” Use complete, clearly punctuated sentences and check verb forms, articles, and singular/plural agreement.

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

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