Band 5.5 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 5.5 · Cambridge IELTS 11 · 2026-08-05

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 hope you are doing well. I am writing to inform you that recently I visit your hotel for business meeting and I stay one night in your hotel.

My last client visit evening time at hotel in the meeting hall, and I discuss with his about the local project and I show his all documents. After that, I came back room and put all documents on table. Next day, when I ready to leave hotel and I did not check my documents I have or no. When I reached the office I saw some are missing.

Unfortunately, this documents are really important for my business. I really appreciate if you could find it. Please double check my booking room as well as meeting hall.

Apart from it, if you find it I will give you google review. Due to which, every customer will rely on your hotel and staff.

Thank you for your consideration and time.

Kind regards,

Jaspreet Kaur.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 6.0

The letter addresses all three bullet points: the location of the papers, their importance, and the requested action. However, the development of these points is somewhat limited. For instance, the explanation of why the papers are important is brief ('really important for my business'), lacking specific detail that would make the request more persuasive. The tone is generally appropriate for a formal letter, though the inclusion of a promise to leave a 'google review' is slightly unconventional in a professional context. Overall, the response covers the requirements but lacks the depth and professional polish expected at higher bands.

Coherence and Cohesion — Band 6.0

The letter is organised into logical paragraphs, which helps the reader follow the narrative. However, the use of cohesive devices is quite basic and sometimes mechanical. Phrases like 'Apart from it' and 'Due to which' are used incorrectly or awkwardly, which disrupts the flow of ideas. The referencing is sometimes unclear, such as in the sentence 'I discuss with his about the local project', where the pronoun usage is confusing. While the overall message is understandable, the lack of sophisticated linking words and occasional awkward transitions prevents the response from reaching a higher band.

Lexical Resource — Band 5.5

The vocabulary is adequate for the task but remains quite limited and repetitive. There are several instances of inaccurate word choice and collocation, such as 'I visit your hotel' (should be 'visited') and 'I discuss with his' (should be 'discussed with him'). The student relies on simple, everyday language and struggles to use more precise or professional terminology suitable for a business-related letter. While the meaning is generally clear, the range of vocabulary is not sufficient to demonstrate the flexibility or precision required for a band 7 or above.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 5.0

The response contains frequent grammatical errors that affect the accuracy of the writing. There are consistent issues with verb tenses (e.g., 'I visit' instead of 'I visited', 'I stay' instead of 'I stayed'), subject-verb agreement, and pronoun usage ('I discuss with his'). Sentence structures are mostly simple, and attempts at more complex sentences often result in errors, such as 'Next day, when I ready to leave hotel and I did not check my documents I have or no.' These errors are noticeable and occasionally cause the reader to pause, though they do not completely impede communication.

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

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