Band 6.5 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 6.5 · Cambridge IELTS 11 · 2026-08-25

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,

I am writing this letter to inform you that I lodged at your hotel for a night on August 3rd to 6th. I was was actually in room 224. I would like to introduce myself.

My name is Lydia Deku, I am a student at Confederation college and I am in my last semester. I was actually going on holidays at Montreal to visit my family and I had to stay at the hotel that night before continuing my journey the next morning.

I had a project assignment to complete and submit it the following day, As I was going through the project that night, I kept it in the top drawer before sleeping.

Unfortunately, I forgot my assignment in the top drawer and I am perfectly sure that the house keepers will be there to clean and tidy up the room as soon as someone leaves.

Please I am writing to let you know that am not far from the hotel. I can book a ride to pick it up in an hour time. Please I want you to inform the one cleaning the room not to throw it in the trash when he or she comes across it.

I want it to be left with the receptionist and I will be there shortly to pick it up. Thank you.

Yours sincerely,

Lydia.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 7.0

You have addressed all three bullet points of the task: identifying the location of the papers, explaining their importance, and requesting specific action from the manager. The tone is generally appropriate for a formal letter, although the introduction is slightly cluttered with unnecessary personal details about your studies and travel plans, which are not required by the prompt. To improve, focus more on the specific details of the lost item rather than your personal background. The request for the manager to secure the papers is clear and actionable, ensuring the reader knows exactly what is expected.

Coherence and Cohesion — Band 6.0

The letter follows a logical progression, moving from the context of your stay to the problem and finally the solution. However, the paragraphing is inconsistent and somewhat erratic, with some sentences standing alone as single-line paragraphs. This disrupts the flow of the text. While you use some cohesive devices like 'Unfortunately' and 'Please', the transition between ideas could be smoother. Using more varied linking words would help connect your sentences more naturally and improve the overall structure of the letter.

Lexical Resource — Band 6.0

Your vocabulary is generally adequate for the task, allowing you to communicate your needs clearly. You use some relevant terms like 'lodged', 'assignment', and 'receptionist'. However, there is a lack of variety and some slightly unnatural phrasing, such as 'I was was actually in room 224' (repetition) and 'I can book a ride to pick it up in an hour time'. To reach a higher band, try to incorporate more precise vocabulary related to hotel services and lost property, and avoid repetitive use of 'actually'.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 6.0

You demonstrate a mix of simple and complex sentence structures. There are several grammatical errors, such as 'I was was actually' (repetition), 'going on holidays at Montreal' (preposition error; 'to' or 'in' would be better), and 'I am perfectly sure that the house keepers will be there' (tense inconsistency). Punctuation is also inconsistent, particularly with comma usage and spacing. While these errors do not prevent the reader from understanding your message, they occur frequently enough to limit your score. Focus on proofreading for subject-verb agreement and basic preposition usage.

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

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