Band 9.0 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 9.0 · 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 9.0)

Dear Sir or Madam,

I am writing with regards to my recent three day stay in room number 24 from 24th to 26th August, 2026, at Travel Lodge Hotel; more specifically, the branch located at 34 Bradshaw Gate, Bolton. I wanted to bring to your attention that I misplaced my important documents, including a draft of my research paper titled "Robotics and Networking: The Hidden Dangers".

Unfortunately, I believe I left them inside room 24, and checked out in a hurry. I last kept them inside the top drawer of the closet, right next to the safe.

You would appreciate that these papers are a result of a year of hard work and dedication, making them of prime significance to me. Moreover, I have been asked to submit the draft by next week to PubMed Online, making it a time-critical matter.

In light of this, I would be highly grateful if you could try finding the papers for me. Once located, could they please be posted through express tracked delivery via Royal Mail at the earliest? I will be eager to bear the cost of postage if it is of inconvenience to the management team.

If you require any additional information, please do not hesitate to contact me.

Yours Faithfully,

Zainab Junaid

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 9.0

The response fully addresses all three bullet points of the prompt. You clearly identified the location of the papers (room 24, top drawer), explained their importance (a year of research, time-sensitive submission), and provided a clear request for action (locating and posting via express delivery). The tone is consistently appropriate for a formal letter to a hotel manager. The ideas are well-developed and the purpose of the letter is clear from the outset. You have successfully met all requirements of the task.

Coherence and Cohesion — Band 9.0

The letter is logically organized with a clear progression of ideas. Each paragraph serves a distinct purpose, moving from the context of the stay to the specific problem, the importance of the items, and finally the requested solution. Cohesive devices such as 'more specifically', 'unfortunately', 'moreover', and 'in light of this' are used effectively to link sentences and paragraphs. The paragraphing is appropriate for a formal letter, and the flow of information is smooth and easy to follow throughout the text.

Lexical Resource — Band 8.5

You demonstrate a wide and precise range of vocabulary. Phrases such as 'prime significance', 'time-critical matter', and 'bear the cost' are used naturally and accurately. The language is sophisticated and fits the formal context of the request perfectly. There are no errors in word choice or collocation, and the vocabulary is varied enough to maintain the reader's interest while remaining professional. The use of specific terminology related to the research paper adds to the clarity and professionalism of the letter.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 8.5

The response displays a high level of grammatical control. You use a variety of complex sentence structures, such as the participial phrase 'making them of prime significance' and the conditional structure 'If you require any additional information'. Punctuation is accurate, and the majority of sentences are error-free. The control over verb tenses is consistent, accurately reflecting the past events of the stay and the current need for assistance. There are no grammatical slips that impede communication or distract the reader.

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

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