Band 5.0 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 5.0 · Cambridge IELTS 11 · 2026-09-01

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 5.0)

Dear sir,

I am writing this letter for informing you, i lost my important documents in your hotel.always I am staying in your hotel when Ian visiting the city.it was happened in my last visit that on may 21st and forgot to take my certificates and passport it is very important for me because I want to travel next week for my new work

I remember the documents are on the table .I forgot to take the documents because I am in rush the taxi driver is vaiting for me ,if I late I want to pay extra charge

I request you if any lead about my documents you can contact my number and it's helpful for me.i am vaiting for your positive reply

Yours faithfully

John

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 5.0

The letter addresses all three bullet points: location of the papers, their importance, and the requested action. However, the response is significantly under the 150-word minimum, which limits the development of ideas. The explanation of why the documents are important is brief, and the request to the manager lacks the appropriate formal tone required for a business letter. Because the length requirement was not met, the development of the response is insufficient to reach a higher band.

Coherence and Cohesion — Band 5.0

The letter is organized into paragraphs, but the logical flow is hindered by poor sentence structure and a lack of cohesive devices. Transitions between ideas are abrupt, such as the jump from the importance of the documents to the location. The use of referencing is occasionally unclear, and the overall progression of the letter feels disjointed. While the purpose of the letter is clear, the lack of effective linking words makes the text feel mechanical and difficult to follow in places.

Lexical Resource — Band 5.0

The vocabulary is basic and repetitive, relying on simple phrases like 'important documents' and 'very important'. There are several errors in word choice and spelling, such as 'vaiting' instead of 'waiting' and 'if I late' instead of 'if I am late'. The range of vocabulary is limited and does not demonstrate the flexibility needed for a higher band. To improve, you should focus on using more precise nouns and verbs, and ensure that spelling is accurate throughout the text.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 5.0

There are frequent grammatical errors throughout the letter, including issues with verb tenses ('it was happened'), subject-verb agreement, and sentence fragments. The punctuation is also inconsistent, with missing capital letters at the start of sentences and improper use of commas. The range of structures is very limited, consisting mostly of simple sentences. The errors are frequent and occasionally impede the clarity of the message, particularly in the second paragraph regarding the taxi driver.

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

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