Band 5.5 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 5.5 · Cambridge IELTS 11 · 2026-08-04

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 5.5)

Dear Sir,

I Rutik Patel writing this letter to need your help to find my project proposal at your hotel. Yesterday i checked out from room no 202 at your hotel Moon Light Plaza.

First of all, i checked in your hotel on 21st July, 2026, around 6:30 pm in room no 202. i have brought my luggage and my file with me during check in. In room i have put that file in to drawer next to bed. I totally forgot to take it out at the time of check out After i reached to client place i realised i did not brought my file.

That file contain an important project proposal. That project need a major investment from my client. File contain the better views of the project and how it would brought profit for both. And in that file i have put an agreement form. If investors like the proposal than i have to sign the deal on spot.

I am requesting you to find that file in that room which i have mentioned earlier in letter. And if you found out that please call me. Send that file with porter and i will pay the delivery fees.

I hope you understand my situation and act as fast as you can and contact me.

I would be very greatful for your kindness.

Thanking you,

Yours sincerely,

Rutik Patel

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 6.0

The letter successfully addresses all three bullet points of the prompt. You clearly identified the location of the papers (the drawer in room 202), explained their significance (a project proposal requiring investment), and provided clear instructions to the manager regarding their retrieval and delivery. The tone is appropriate for a formal business request. To reach a higher band, ensure that the opening is more professional; for instance, 'Dear Sir or Madam' was requested, but you used 'Dear Sir'. Additionally, ensure the purpose of the letter is stated more concisely in the opening sentence to improve the overall flow of information.

Coherence and Cohesion — Band 5.5

The letter is logically organized into distinct paragraphs, each serving a clear purpose. There is a progression of ideas from the check-in details to the description of the items and finally the request for action. However, the use of cohesive devices is somewhat mechanical and repetitive (e.g., 'That file', 'In room'). The transition between sentences could be smoother; for example, using linking words like 'consequently' or 'furthermore' would help connect your ideas more naturally. Paragraphing is present, but the internal structure of the paragraphs could benefit from more varied sentence starters to improve the flow.

Lexical Resource — Band 5.5

You have a sufficient range of vocabulary to convey your message clearly, such as 'project proposal', 'investment', and 'agreement form'. However, there are several instances of awkward word choice and minor errors, such as 'i did not brought' (should be 'bring') and 'greatful' (spelling error). The vocabulary is generally functional but lacks the precision or sophistication required for higher bands. To improve, focus on using more accurate collocations and ensuring correct word forms, especially when describing business-related actions or expressing gratitude.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 5.5

The response contains a mix of simple and complex sentence structures. While the meaning is generally clear, there are frequent grammatical errors, particularly with verb tenses and subject-verb agreement (e.g., 'i checked in your hotel', 'That project need', 'how it would brought'). Punctuation is also inconsistent, with some missing commas and capitalization errors (e.g., 'i' instead of 'I'). These errors are noticeable but do not prevent the reader from understanding the request. To improve, pay closer attention to tense consistency and basic sentence construction rules.

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

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