Band 6.5 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 6.5 · Cambridge IELTS 11 · 2026-08-17

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 you regarding an important document I forgot at your hotel. My stay was booked for 20th to 24th of July in room number 201. Since the documents are very important, I would like you to look into the matter as soon as possible.

I was there on a business trip, and therefore i was carrying important documents. It was placed inside a brown file. That was kept inside the locker in the closet. Those documents belong to my work. As I have lost them, it has affected my reputation at work.

I believe, that file should still be inside that locker. If not, some of your staff would have kept it at your lost and found box. If possible please look into this matter as a priority, because it had companies confidential documents which was supposed to be delivered to my boss.

Thank you for your valuable time and efforts. Hoping I get my documents back as soon as possible. I am open to give any other important information if required.

Yours faithfully,

Malav Shah

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 7.0

The letter covers all three bullet points required by the prompt. You clearly state where the papers were left (room 201, inside the locker), explain their importance (business documents, impact on reputation), and provide a clear request for action. 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 reach a higher band, ensure that the explanation of why the documents are important is slightly more detailed, perhaps by mentioning specific consequences beyond just 'reputation'. Overall, the task is fully addressed.

Coherence and Cohesion — Band 7.0

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 'Since', 'therefore', and 'If not', which help the flow of information. However, the transition between the second and third paragraphs could be smoother. The use of paragraphing is appropriate for a formal letter. To improve, try to use a wider range of linking words to connect sentences more fluidly, as some sentences feel slightly disjointed.

Lexical Resource — Band 6.0

You demonstrate an adequate range of vocabulary for the task, such as 'business trip', 'confidential', and 'reputation'. The language is generally natural and appropriate for the context. There are a few minor errors, such as 'companies confidential documents' (should be 'company's') and 'lost and found box' (usually 'lost and found department' or 'office'). While the vocabulary is sufficient to convey your meaning clearly, it lacks the more sophisticated or precise collocations that would be expected at a higher band level.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 6.0

You use a mix of simple and complex sentence structures. There are some grammatical errors, such as 'It was placed' (referring to plural 'documents'), 'i was carrying' (lowercase 'i'), and 'which was supposed to be' (should be 'which were' to agree with 'documents'). Despite these errors, the meaning is always clear, and the mistakes do not impede communication. To improve, focus on subject-verb agreement and consistent use of plural/singular forms. Increasing the variety of complex sentence structures would also help elevate your score.

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

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