Band 9.0 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 9.0 · Cambridge IELTS 11 · 2026-08-20

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 9.0)

Dear Sir or Madam,

I am writing to ask for your assistance in locating some important papers that I believe I accidentally left at your hotel during my recent stay.

I stayed at your hotel last weekend, and I think I may have left the documents in the bedside drawer in my room. I remember placing them there for safekeeping shortly after checking in, but I unfortunately forgot to collect them before checking out.

The papers are extremely important because they include my educational certificates and official employment documents. These are original copies, and I need them for an upcoming immigration application. Replacing some of these documents would be both difficult and time-consuming.

I would be grateful if you could ask your housekeeping staff to check the room and contact the lost-and-found department to see whether the papers have been handed in. If they are found, please contact me as soon as possible. I would be happy to arrange and pay for a courier service to have them returned to me securely.

Thank you for your time and assistance. I look forward to hearing from you soon.

Yours faithfully,

Sushmita

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 9.0

The response fully addresses all three bullet points in the prompt. You clearly identified the location of the papers (bedside drawer), explained their significance (educational and employment documents for an immigration application), and provided a clear request for action (checking with housekeeping and lost-and-found). The tone is consistently formal and appropriate for a letter to a hotel manager. The ideas are well-developed and the purpose of the letter is clear from the outset. You have successfully met all the requirements of the task.

Coherence and Cohesion — Band 9.0

The letter is logically organized with a clear progression of ideas. Each paragraph serves a distinct purpose, moving from the reason for writing to the specific details of the lost items, and finally to the requested action. Cohesive devices such as 'shortly after', 'because', 'if they are found', and 'as soon as possible' are used naturally to link sentences and ideas. The paragraphing is appropriate, and the overall structure is coherent and easy to follow throughout the response.

Lexical Resource — Band 9.0

You demonstrate a wide range of vocabulary that is both precise and appropriate for the context. Phrases such as 'assistance in locating', 'safekeeping', 'time-consuming', and 'courier service' show a high level of lexical control. The language is natural and sophisticated, fitting the formal tone required for this task. There are no errors in word choice or collocation, and the vocabulary used is more than sufficient to convey your message with clarity and precision.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 9.0

The writing displays a wide range of grammatical structures with high accuracy. You effectively use complex sentences, such as 'I would be grateful if you could ask your housekeeping staff to check the room and contact the lost-and-found department to see whether the papers have been handed in.' Punctuation is used correctly throughout, and there are no grammatical errors. The control over tense and sentence structure is excellent, contributing to the overall fluency and professional tone of the letter.

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

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