Band 6.0 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 6.0 · Cambridge IELTS 11 · 2026-08-26

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 6.0)

Dear Sir or Madam,

I hope this letter finds you well.

I am writing this letter to kindly request you that I forgot some of my important papers in your hotel two days ago. As far as I remember I had those documents with me during my stay at hotel. I think forget these documents in the room which I stayed.

Moving forward, these documents has my driving licence. without it I cannot drive anywhere. It is really hard for me. Furthermore, all of my Identity cards like my BC Id, my MSP and also my passport.

I would appreciate it if you could mail those documents on my address. i would also suggest that you can send me your email so that I can pay you for the expenses of mail. Also, if you need anything from my end please let me know.

Thank you for taking the time to consider my concerns. I look forward to hearing from you.

Yours faithfully

David Smith

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 6.5

The letter covers all three bullet points required by the prompt: the location of the papers, their importance, and the requested action. The tone is appropriate for a formal letter to a hotel manager. However, the development of ideas is somewhat limited. For example, the explanation of why the papers are important is a list of items rather than a cohesive explanation of the consequences of losing them. While the task is fully addressed, the lack of depth in the explanation prevents it from reaching the higher bands. The purpose of the letter is clear throughout.

Coherence and Cohesion — Band 6.5

The letter is logically organized into clear paragraphs, each serving a specific purpose. The progression of ideas is easy to follow. However, the use of cohesive devices is somewhat mechanical and limited. Phrases like 'Moving forward' are used slightly awkwardly in this context, and there is a reliance on simple transitions. While the paragraphing is appropriate, the overall flow could be improved by using a wider variety of linking words to connect sentences more naturally. The referencing is generally clear, though some minor awkwardness in sentence structure occasionally disrupts the flow.

Lexical Resource — Band 6.0

The vocabulary is adequate for the task, allowing the writer to communicate their needs clearly. There are some inaccuracies in word choice, such as 'request you that I forgot' (should be 'inform you that I left') and 'mail those documents on my address' (should be 'to my address'). The range is sufficient for the task, but there is little evidence of less common lexical items or sophisticated collocations. The errors in word choice do not impede communication, but they do highlight a limitation in the writer's ability to use vocabulary with precision.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 5.5

The letter contains a mix of simple and complex sentence structures. However, there are frequent grammatical errors, such as 'I think forget these documents' (missing subject/tense error), 'these documents has my driving licence' (subject-verb agreement), and 'all of my Identity cards like my BC Id' (fragmented sentence). While the meaning remains clear, these errors are persistent. A wider range of error-free complex structures is needed to reach a higher band. Punctuation is generally functional, though some sentences are slightly disjointed due to the grammatical slips.

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

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