Band 5.0 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer
Overall Band Score: 5.0 · Cambridge IELTS 11 · 2026-09-04
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 Manager,
I felt so comfortable during my stays at your hotel. I had accommodated for about 2 weeks from 23rd July to 8th Aug 2026. Throughout the stay, the staff were so responsible and friendlier to me.
The room was so cozy and it smelled so aromatic. The most important part of the room was its bed which was perfectly shaped for a single person and too comfortable. The bathroom was also cleaned well. The waiter served delicious and fresh food items and also treated with a dessert item after the main course.
With the ambience and luxury I felt at the hotel, I forgot my handbag at the room which got important documents and papers of my work.
AI examiner evaluation
| Criterion | Band |
|---|---|
| Task Achievement / Task Response | 5.0 |
| Coherence and Cohesion | 5.5 |
| Lexical Resource | 5.0 |
| Grammatical Range and Accuracy | 5.0 |
| Overall | 5.0 |
Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 5.0
The response fails to meet the minimum word count requirement of 150 words, which significantly impacts the task achievement. While you have addressed the three bullet points—mentioning where the papers were left, explaining their importance, and stating what you want the manager to do—the development is insufficient. The letter focuses excessively on describing the hotel room and staff, which is irrelevant to the prompt. To improve, you must focus on the specific requirements of the task and ensure the letter is of sufficient length to fully develop your ideas.
Coherence and Cohesion — Band 5.5
The letter is organized into paragraphs, which helps the reader follow the structure. However, the progression of ideas is somewhat disjointed. The transition from the description of the hotel stay to the issue of the lost handbag is abrupt. While you use some cohesive devices, the overall flow could be improved by using more varied linking words to connect your thoughts more naturally. The paragraphing is present, but the content within the paragraphs lacks a clear focus on the primary purpose of the letter.
Lexical Resource — Band 5.0
Your vocabulary is generally adequate for the task, but it is somewhat repetitive and basic. Phrases like 'so comfortable', 'so responsible', and 'so cozy' are used frequently, which limits the range of your expression. There are also some minor collocation errors, such as 'accommodated for about 2 weeks' (should be 'stayed for') and 'treated with a dessert item' (should be 'served a dessert'). To achieve a higher band, try to incorporate more precise adjectives and verbs that are appropriate for a formal letter.
Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 5.0
The response contains a mix of simple and complex sentence structures, but there are several grammatical inaccuracies. For example, 'I had accommodated for about 2 weeks' is grammatically incorrect in this context. You also have issues with verb tense consistency and preposition usage, such as 'forgot my handbag at the room' (should be 'in the room') and 'got important documents' (should be 'contained'). While these errors do not completely impede communication, they occur frequently enough to affect the overall clarity and professionalism of your writing.
See this exact question answered at other band scores — the same prompt compared across bands.
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