Band 9.0 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 9.0 · Cambridge IELTS 11 · 2026-08-01

IELTS Writing Task 1 question

Write a letter to the manager of the hotel. In your letter

• say where you think you left the papers
• explain why they are so important
• tell the manager what you want him/her to do

You do NOT need to write any addresses.

Begin your letter as follows:

Dear Sir or Madam,

Student answer (Band 9.0)

Dear Sir or Madam,

I am writing to ask for your help in locating some important papers that I believe I accidentally left at your hotel during my stay last weekend. I checked out on Sunday morning after staying for two nights in Room 315.

I think I left the documents in the drawer of the desk near the window. I was working on my laptop before leaving, and I may have forgotten to check the drawer while packing my belongings. I only realized they were missing after I arrived home.

These papers are extremely important because they include my passport copies, university certificates, and several original employment documents. I need them for an immigration application that must be submitted within the next two weeks. Replacing these documents would be both expensive and time-consuming.

I would be very grateful if you could ask your housekeeping staff to check the room and your lost-and-found department. If the papers are found, please let me know as soon as possible and arrange to send them to me by courier. I am happy to cover all delivery costs.

Thank you for your time and assistance. I look forward to your reply.

Yours faithfully,

Dharminder

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 9.0

The letter fully addresses all three bullet points required by the prompt. You clearly identified the location of the papers (the desk drawer in Room 315), provided a compelling reason for their importance (immigration application deadlines), and gave specific instructions to the manager regarding the search and courier delivery. The tone is consistently formal and appropriate for a business letter. The ideas are well-developed and the purpose of the communication is clear from the outset, ensuring the reader understands exactly what is needed. No parts of the task were omitted, and the response is well-structured to meet the requirements of a formal request.

Coherence and Cohesion — Band 9.0

The letter is logically organized, with each paragraph serving a distinct purpose. The progression of ideas is smooth, moving from the context of the stay to the specific location of the items, the justification for their importance, and finally the call to action. Cohesive devices such as 'I am writing to', 'I think', 'These papers are', and 'If the papers are found' are used naturally to link sentences and paragraphs. The paragraphing is appropriate, and the overall structure is clear and easy to follow, which is essential for a formal letter.

Lexical Resource — Band 8.5

You demonstrate a good range of vocabulary appropriate for a formal business context. Phrases such as 'locating some important papers', 'accidentally left', 'immigration application', and 'cover all delivery costs' are used accurately and naturally. The language is precise and conveys the necessary information without ambiguity. While the vocabulary is not overly complex, it is perfectly suited to the task and shows a high level of control. There are no spelling or word-choice errors, and the tone is consistently professional throughout the entire letter.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 9.0

The letter displays a high level of grammatical accuracy. You use a variety of sentence structures, including complex sentences such as 'I am writing to ask for your help in locating some important papers that I believe I accidentally left at your hotel...' and 'If the papers are found, please let me know as soon as possible...'. Punctuation is used correctly throughout, and there are no noticeable grammatical errors. The control over verb tenses and modal verbs (e.g., 'would be', 'must be submitted') is excellent, contributing to the overall clarity and professional tone of the writing.

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