Band 8.0 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 8.0 · 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 8.0)

Dear Sir or Madam,

I am writing this letter to apprise you of the fact that during my recent visit to your prestigious hotel, I left some of my extremely important documents in the hotel room. My room number was 420 and I stayed there from 21st July to 25th July.

I specially came to Ottawa to collect my papers from the university. Since I recently applied for an overseas job, these documents are vital for my selection process. The folder had my college transcripts, passport and my background verification certificate.

Would you be kind enough to look into this matter? I suggest that you should personally collect the documents from the hotel room and keep it in a safe and secure place. I will be sending my brother to pickup the documents. Additionally, in case if documents are not found then I would like to request that you should check the lobby camera footage or ask your cleaning staff members if they have seen or took the documents.

Hoping for a quick action.

Yours faithfully,

Achin Pal

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 8.0

You have successfully addressed all three bullet points in the prompt. You clearly identified the location of the papers (room 420), explained their significance (vital for a job application), and provided clear instructions to the manager regarding their retrieval. The tone is appropriate for a formal letter, and the purpose is clear from the outset. The ideas are well-developed and relevant to the scenario provided. You have maintained a consistent focus on the task throughout the response, ensuring that the reader understands exactly what is required. No further development is needed as the requirements are fully met.

Coherence and Cohesion — Band 8.0

The letter is logically organized with a clear progression of ideas. Each paragraph serves a distinct purpose, moving from the introduction of the problem to the explanation and finally the call to action. You have used cohesive devices effectively, such as 'Additionally' and 'Since', to link your sentences and ideas. The paragraphing is appropriate for a formal letter, and the overall structure is easy to follow. The transition between the explanation of the documents and the request for action is smooth, contributing to the overall coherence of the piece.

Lexical Resource — Band 7.5

You demonstrate a good range of vocabulary, using formal and precise terms such as 'apprise', 'prestigious', 'vital', and 'verification'. These choices are appropriate for the context of a formal letter to a hotel manager. There are no significant errors in word choice or collocation that impede communication. While the vocabulary is effective and fits the task well, it could be slightly more varied to reach the highest band, but it is certainly sufficient for a high score. The language used is natural and conveys the intended meaning clearly.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 7.5

You have used a mix of simple and complex sentence structures effectively. Most of your sentences are error-free, and your control over grammar is strong. There are a few minor slips, such as 'in case if documents are not found' (which should be 'in case the documents are not found') and 'seen or took' (which should be 'seen or taken' to maintain parallel structure). However, these errors are infrequent and do not interfere with the clarity of your message. Your punctuation is generally accurate, and the formal tone is maintained throughout the letter.

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

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