Band 8.5 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 8.5 · Cambridge IELTS 11 · 2026-08-28

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 8.5)

Dear Sir or Madam,

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

I stayed at your hotel from 22 to 25 August in Room 306. I distinctly remember placing a brown folder containing the documents on the desk beside the television on the morning of my departure. However, I only realised after returning home that the folder was missing from my luggage. It is therefore quite possible that I inadvertently left it in the room or that it was misplaced while the room was being cleaned.

These papers are extremely important to me as they contain original educational and employment documents required for an ongoing official application. Some of them would be difficult and time-consuming to replace, and losing them could consequently cause considerable delays to my application.

I would be grateful if you could ask the housekeeping staff to check Room 306, particularly the desk, drawers and bedside area, as well as the hotel’s lost-and-found department. If the folder has been found, I would appreciate it if you could contact me at your earliest convenience and arrange to have it securely returned to me.

Thank you for your time and assistance. I sincerely hope the documents can be located.

Yours faithfully,

[Your Name]

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 8.5

The response fully addresses all three bullet points of the task. You clearly identified the location of the papers (Room 306, on the desk), explained their importance (original educational and employment documents for an application), and provided a clear request for action (check the room and lost-and-found, and contact you). 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. There are no omissions, and the response is well-structured to meet the requirements of a formal request.

Coherence and Cohesion — Band 8.5

The letter is logically organized, with each paragraph serving a distinct purpose. The progression of ideas is smooth, moving from the introduction to the specific details of the incident, the explanation of importance, and finally the call to action. Cohesive devices such as 'However', 'It is therefore', and 'consequently' are used effectively to link ideas. Paragraphing is used appropriately to separate the different stages of the letter, making it easy to follow. The referencing is clear throughout, and the overall structure is professional and coherent.

Lexical Resource — Band 8.5

The vocabulary is precise, natural, and well-suited to a formal context. You demonstrate a wide range of vocabulary, using phrases such as 'distinctly remember', 'inadvertently left', 'at your earliest convenience', and 'securely returned'. The word choices are accurate and sophisticated, contributing to a professional tone. There are no errors in word choice or collocation, and the language flows naturally. The use of 'original educational and employment documents' shows a good command of specific terminology relevant to the situation.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 8.5

The grammatical range is excellent, featuring a variety of complex sentence structures that are used with high accuracy. For example, the use of conditional structures and subordinate clauses is handled flawlessly. The punctuation is correct, and the sentence construction is varied, which keeps the reader engaged. There are no grammatical errors, and the control over tense and aspect is perfect for the context of describing a past event and making a future request. The writing is error-free and demonstrates a high level of proficiency.

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