Band 5.5 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 5.5 · Cambridge IELTS 11 · 2026-09-02

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 5.5)

Dear sir or madam ,

I am writing this letter to inform my property paper of house I left at your blue wine hotel at 3 days stay .

At last week , I booked the hotel for business meeting and with my employees . We stay at 405 Room at east building . The service was very good and we don’t found any problems with this . But the issue is a forget my original house papers that is in black file . May be I was forget it in drawer . Its very important for me as well aa my passport is also inside the file .

I am very thankful to you if you could help me to find my documents and sent to my adress . I will send you the payment of courier service . I will attach the picture of my black file looks as reference.

I look forward to hearing from you soon ,

Thank you

Jaismeen kaur

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 6.0

The letter covers all three bullet points required by the prompt: identifying the location of the papers, explaining their importance, and requesting action from the manager. The tone is generally appropriate for a formal letter, although the expression of ideas is sometimes hindered by grammatical inaccuracies. The purpose of the letter is clear from the beginning, and the request for the return of the documents is specific. To improve, ensure that the explanation of why the papers are important is more clearly articulated, as the current phrasing is slightly confusing regarding the inclusion of the passport.

Coherence and Cohesion — Band 6.0

The letter is organized into logical paragraphs, which helps the reader follow the narrative. There is a clear opening and closing. However, the use of cohesive devices is somewhat limited and occasionally mechanical. For example, the transition between the description of the stay and the issue of the missing papers is abrupt. The referencing is sometimes unclear, such as in the phrase 'that is in black file,' where the article usage is missing. Improving the use of linking words and ensuring consistent referencing would help the flow of the letter significantly.

Lexical Resource — Band 5.5

The vocabulary is adequate for the task but lacks variety and precision. There are several instances of awkward phrasing, such as 'inform my property paper of house' and 'blue wine hotel,' which appear to be misinterpretations or incorrect collocations. While the meaning is generally understandable, the lexical range is limited to basic terms. To reach a higher band, you should focus on using more natural collocations and precise terminology related to business travel and lost property, while also paying closer attention to word forms and standard English expressions.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 5.0

There are frequent grammatical errors throughout the text, including issues with verb tense ('we don’t found,' 'I was forget'), article usage, and sentence structure. Many sentences are simple, and attempts at more complex structures often result in errors that can impede the reader's understanding. For instance, 'I am very thankful to you if you could help me' is grammatically awkward. While the message is conveyed, the high frequency of errors in basic grammar and syntax prevents a higher score. Focusing on subject-verb agreement and correct tense usage will improve clarity.

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

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