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 sir,

I am writing this letter to you for the papers i left in your hotel . These papers was in my bag i think last time which was placed on the table close to the washroom . However when i checked the bag, there were no papers inside the bag. Therefore, the i have to cancel my meetings next week in which i need those papers, because in the papers there are lot of presentations printed for my upcoming meeting and events , thats why these presentations are very important for me to get my promotion next year. I want you to find the papers in my room i was last night and in the lobby area . In the room you can check the bed area and that table i was talking about when, you got the papers just text me i will come and collect the papers.

yours faithfully

Kuwerinder Singh

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 6.0

You have addressed all three bullet points required by the prompt: identifying the location of the papers, explaining their importance, and requesting action from the manager. However, the development of these points is somewhat limited. For example, the explanation of why the papers are important is a bit repetitive, and the request for action is slightly disjointed. To improve, ensure that your ideas are fully extended and that the tone remains consistently professional throughout the letter. While the task requirements are met, the lack of formal structure and some clarity issues in the explanation prevent a higher score.

Coherence and Cohesion — Band 5.5

The letter lacks clear paragraphing, which makes the text appear as a single block. While there is a logical progression from the problem to the request, the use of cohesive devices is quite limited and sometimes mechanical (e.g., 'Therefore', 'However'). The referencing is occasionally unclear, such as in the sentence 'In the room you can check the bed area and that table i was talking about when, you got the papers just text me'. Using more varied linking words and breaking the text into distinct paragraphs for the introduction, body, and conclusion would significantly improve the flow and readability of your writing.

Lexical Resource — Band 5.5

Your vocabulary is generally adequate for the task, allowing you to communicate your needs clearly. However, the range is quite limited and repetitive. You rely on basic phrasing, such as 'I am writing this letter to you for the papers' and 'these presentations are very important'. There are also some minor errors in word choice and collocation, such as 'in the papers there are lot of presentations printed'. To reach a higher band, try to incorporate more precise vocabulary related to business or hotel settings and avoid repeating the same words in close proximity.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 5.0

There are frequent grammatical errors throughout the text, including subject-verb agreement issues ('These papers was') and punctuation errors (missing commas, incorrect capitalization of 'i'). The sentence structures are mostly simple, and the attempt at a complex sentence in the final paragraph is marred by a comma splice ('when, you got the papers just text me'). While the meaning is generally understandable, the frequency of these errors requires the reader to work harder to follow your message. Focusing on basic sentence construction and proofreading for subject-verb agreement will help improve your accuracy.

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

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