Band 6.5 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer
Overall Band Score: 6.5 · 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 6.5)
Dear Manager,
I hope you are doing well. I am writing this letter to you as I believe I have left my important documents in your hotel during my recent visit on last Sunday between 0500 pm to 0700 pm. I would like to explain the situation.
During my last trip, I have booked the table number 17 for 2 hours mentioned above. I was with my friend and I remember I showed her those documents. Additionally, I had noticed a camera just above that table, if it is possible could you please pull out the video footage.
The documents are really significant as they are related to my new house. Although, I do have original papers at my home, still I don’t want anyone to misuse those documents.
I would be grateful if you could search around and look for the cctv footage as requested. If you will able to locate it please let me know by reverting on this email.
Thank you for your time and consideration.
Yours faithfully,
Sukhman
AI examiner evaluation
| Criterion | Band |
|---|---|
| Task Achievement / Task Response | 7.0 |
| Coherence and Cohesion | 7.0 |
| Lexical Resource | 6.5 |
| Grammatical Range and Accuracy | 6.0 |
| Overall | 6.5 |
Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 7.0
The letter successfully addresses all three bullet points of the prompt. You clearly identify the location (table 17), explain the importance of the documents regarding your new house, and provide a clear request for the manager to check CCTV footage. The tone is appropriate for a formal letter to a business. The ideas are developed sufficiently to meet the task requirements, and the purpose of the letter is clear from the outset. To reach a higher band, ensure that all details are fully integrated into the narrative flow, as the transition between the location of the papers and the request for CCTV could be slightly more fluid.
Coherence and Cohesion — Band 7.0
The letter is logically organized with a clear introduction, body, and conclusion. Paragraphing is used appropriately to separate the different points of the task. You use some cohesive devices, such as 'Additionally' and 'Although', to link ideas. However, the progression between sentences is occasionally slightly mechanical. For instance, the transition between the description of the table and the request for CCTV could be improved by using more sophisticated linking phrases. Overall, the message is easy to follow, and the structure supports the reader's understanding of the situation.
Lexical Resource — Band 6.5
You demonstrate an adequate range of vocabulary for the task, using words like 'significant', 'consideration', and 'footage' correctly. There are some minor issues with word choice, such as 'reverting on this email', which is not standard business English. Additionally, 'pull out the video footage' is slightly informal; 'review the security footage' would be more professional. While the vocabulary is sufficient to convey your meaning clearly, incorporating a few more precise collocations or less common lexical items would help elevate the score. The spelling is accurate throughout the letter.
Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 6.0
You use a mix of simple and complex sentence structures. There are some grammatical inaccuracies, such as 'I have booked the table' (should be 'I booked' as it refers to a specific past time) and 'If you will able to locate it' (should be 'If you are able to locate them'). Despite these errors, the meaning remains clear, and the mistakes do not impede communication. To improve, focus on consistent tense usage when describing past events and ensure subject-verb agreement in conditional sentences. The punctuation is generally correct, and the formal sign-off is appropriate.
See this exact question answered at other band scores — the same prompt compared across bands.
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