Band 6.0 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 6.0 · Cambridge IELTS 11 · 2026-08-14

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 6.0)

Dear sir,

I am writing this letter regarding my important documents which I forget on the Reception area while checking out.

On Monday, 15th August 2026, I stayed at your hotel for two days while I was checking out on 17th August 2026I was getting late and I had my immigration documents in my hand, which are really very important because I am on work permit in Canada and I have my important papers like work permit social insurance number in a file.

While checking out, I forget to take my documents with myself, and I think I left them in the reception area. It has been two days since I checked out. I am requesting you that please contact your staff if someone has left their documents and if they have my documents, then please email me back.

I am looking eagerly for your response,

Your sincerely

Harshdeep Kaur

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 6.5

You have addressed all three bullet points in the prompt: identifying the location of the papers, explaining their importance, and requesting action from the manager. The tone is appropriate for a formal letter, and the purpose is clear. However, the development of ideas is somewhat limited. For example, while you mention the documents are important because of your work permit, you could have provided more specific details about the potential consequences of losing them to better highlight the urgency. The letter meets the requirements of the task effectively, but further elaboration would elevate the response to a higher band.

Coherence and Cohesion — Band 6.0

The letter is logically organized, with a clear introduction, body, and conclusion. You use basic cohesive devices such as 'While checking out' and 'It has been two days since'. However, the paragraphing is somewhat weak; the second paragraph is quite long and contains several distinct ideas that could be better separated for clarity. Additionally, the transition between sentences is occasionally mechanical. To improve, try using a wider range of linking words and ensure that each paragraph focuses on a single, well-developed idea to improve the overall flow of the text.

Lexical Resource — Band 6.0

You demonstrate an adequate range of vocabulary for the task, using terms like 'immigration documents', 'work permit', and 'social insurance number' correctly. However, there are some repetitive word choices and minor inaccuracies, such as 'I forget' instead of the past tense 'I forgot'. The vocabulary is functional but lacks the precision and variety required for higher bands. To improve, try to incorporate more sophisticated synonyms and ensure that your verb tenses are consistent with the context of the narrative.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 5.5

There is a mix of simple and complex sentence structures, but there are frequent grammatical errors that occasionally impede the flow. For instance, 'I am writing this letter regarding my important documents which I forget on the Reception area' contains tense errors and preposition issues. There is also a run-on sentence in the second paragraph: '...on 17th August 2026I was getting late...'. While the meaning remains clear, these errors in tense and punctuation are noticeable. Focusing on subject-verb agreement and consistent past tense usage will help improve your accuracy significantly.

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

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