Band 6.0 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 6.0 · Cambridge IELTS 11 · 2026-08-15

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 or Madam,

I am writing about papers which I forget in your hotel.

This happened yesterday when I was in hurry to reach my office to attend an important meeting. At that time, I did not realize that the papers are left and I forget about them. However, when I need those papers I could not find them anywhere in my office, and I realized that I forget those documents in my room.

Missing papers are containing crucial information about my business plans so that they are very confidential. In addition, I do not have any other back-up of this information and without them I will not be able to start my new project.

I need your help to find those precious papers for me and I would willingly offer a kind reward to whom find them. By searching my last check-in room you can find those documents or asking to the genitor may give you some clue.

Thanking you for your kind attention, and I am eagerly waiting for your prompt response.

Yours Sincerely,

John.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 6.5

The letter addresses all three bullet points required by the prompt. You clearly state where the papers were left (in the hotel room), explain their importance (confidential business plans, no back-up), and provide a clear request for action (searching the room or asking the staff). The tone is appropriate for a formal letter to a hotel manager. The ideas are relevant and sufficiently developed to meet the task requirements. To improve, ensure that the opening statement is more precise regarding the timeline and the nature of the documents to enhance clarity.

Coherence and Cohesion — Band 6.0

The letter is logically organized with a clear introduction, body paragraphs, and a closing. Each paragraph focuses on a specific aspect of the task. You use some cohesive devices, such as 'However', 'In addition', and 'Therefore', which help the flow of ideas. However, the transition between the first and second paragraph could be smoother. The use of referencing is generally clear, though some sentences feel slightly disjointed due to repetitive sentence structures. Overall, the progression of ideas is easy to follow, and the paragraphing is appropriate for a formal letter.

Lexical Resource — Band 6.0

You demonstrate an adequate range of vocabulary for the task, using words like 'confidential', 'precious', and 'prompt'. However, there are some inaccuracies in word choice and collocation. For example, 'papers which I forget' should be 'papers which I forgot' or 'left behind', and 'genitor' is not the standard term for hotel staff (a 'member of the housekeeping staff' or 'cleaner' would be more natural). While the vocabulary is sufficient to convey your meaning, it lacks the precision and variety required for a higher band score.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 6.0

You use a mix of simple and complex sentence structures. There are several grammatical errors, particularly with verb tenses, such as 'I forget' instead of 'I forgot' and 'papers are left' instead of 'papers were left'. Additionally, 'to whom find them' should be 'to whoever finds them'. While these errors are noticeable, they do not impede the overall communication of your message. To reach a higher band, focus on consistent tense usage and refining complex sentence structures to ensure they are error-free.

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

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