Band 6.5 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 6.5 · 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 6.5)

Dear Sir or Madam,

I am writing to ask if you could help me to find some my documents that might be I forgot at your hotel. I stayed at your hotel 2 days ago, and when I reached home, I realized that some of my documents are missing from my backpack.

The reason I need your help is that I think I left it on the reception desk while I was checking-out from the hotel. That documents are for my visa application, and I have the interview date next month. So, without those documents I will not be able to attend my interview. Though, I have photo copy of those documents in my phone, as they are the original copies of the documents that are mandatory requirement to attend the interview.

If possible, I would like to request you to inquire about this with your receptionist as earliest as possible, and I would be grateful if you could courier them if you find those papers and also send me a text or email that you found them. You can find my permanent address to deliver the documents in my hotel booking confirmation.

Thank you very much in advance for your time and assistance, I will look forward to your prompt response.

Sincerely,

PS

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 7.0

You have successfully addressed all three bullet points in the prompt. You clearly identified where the papers were likely left (the reception desk), explained their importance (visa application and interview requirements), and provided clear instructions to the manager regarding the search and courier process. The tone is appropriate for a formal letter. To improve, ensure you avoid minor inconsistencies in your explanation, such as the slightly confusing sentence regarding the photocopies versus original documents. Overall, the purpose of the letter is clear and the requirements are fully met.

Coherence and Cohesion — Band 6.5

The letter follows a logical structure with a clear opening and closing. Paragraphing is used effectively to separate the different requirements of the task. You use some cohesive devices such as 'The reason I need your help is that' and 'If possible', which help the flow of ideas. However, some transitions could be smoother; for instance, the transition between the importance of the documents and the request for assistance is slightly abrupt. The use of referencing is generally clear, though some minor mechanical errors in sentence structure occasionally disrupt the flow.

Lexical Resource — Band 6.0

You demonstrate an adequate range of vocabulary for the task, using terms like 'mandatory requirement', 'inquire', and 'prompt response'. There are some minor errors in word choice and collocation, such as 'some my documents' (should be 'some of my documents') and 'that documents' (should be 'those documents'). While these errors do not impede communication, they indicate a need for more precision in your use of determiners and pluralization. Expanding your vocabulary to include more varied formal expressions would help elevate your score.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 6.0

You use a mix of simple and complex sentence structures. There are several grammatical slips, such as 'might be I forgot' (should be 'might have forgotten') and 'as earliest as possible' (should be 'as early as possible'). Additionally, there is a tense inconsistency in 'I have the interview date next month' followed by 'I will not be able to attend'. While these errors are noticeable, they do not prevent the reader from understanding your message. To reach a higher band, focus on consistent verb tenses and correct word order in complex clauses.

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

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