Band 5.5 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 5.5 · 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 5.5)

DEAR MANAGER ,

I hope that everything is good over there , I am writing a letter to inform you that last week I stayed at your hotel from 19th march to 21st march at 206 room no. for my outdoor meetings. At 21st I was in rush due to I wake-up late so i hurry-up and forgotten my important documents of my office . So could please check my room .I partically remembering that i had kept my folder at locker and password i wrote is 1234. could u please look out there please because the documents is related to my latest deal which i had achive i was very happy for deal because it is benefical for my personal growth and even for my company .I cant come to take it off please can u mail that document at shine1234 gmail.com. If u could than it will be more helpful for me i request u and i will be waiting for response.

Thanks for regards ,

semma

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 6.0

The letter addresses all three bullet points: the location of the papers, their importance, and the requested action. However, the development of these points is somewhat limited. The explanation of why the documents are important is a bit repetitive, and the tone is inconsistent for a formal letter to a hotel manager. While the task requirements are met, the lack of formal register and the inclusion of unnecessary details, such as the locker password, detract from the professional quality expected in a formal correspondence.

Coherence and Cohesion — Band 5.0

The letter lacks clear paragraphing, which is essential for a formal letter. The ideas are presented in a single block of text, making it difficult to follow the logical progression. Cohesive devices are used, but they are often basic or misused (e.g., 'So could please', 'If u could than'). The transition between the explanation of the documents and the request for action is abrupt. To improve, you should use clear paragraph breaks for each bullet point and employ a wider range of linking words to connect your ideas more fluidly.

Lexical Resource — Band 5.0

The vocabulary is limited and often informal, which is inappropriate for this task. Phrases like 'I was in rush', 'hurry-up', and 'look out there' are colloquial. There are also errors in word choice, such as 'partically' instead of 'particularly' and 'achive' instead of 'achieved'. The use of 'u' instead of 'you' is unacceptable in formal writing. To reach a higher band, you need to use more precise, formal vocabulary and ensure correct spelling throughout the letter.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 5.0

The letter contains frequent grammatical errors that occasionally impede communication. There are issues with verb tense consistency ('I had kept', 'I wrote', 'I had achive'), sentence structure (run-on sentences), and punctuation. Many sentences are fragmented or lack proper subject-verb agreement. For example, 'the documents is related' should be 'the documents are related'. The reliance on simple sentence structures limits the range, and the frequent errors in basic grammar prevent the response from reaching a higher band.

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

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