Band 5.5 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 5.5 · Cambridge IELTS 11 · 2026-09-08

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 Mr Smith,

I am writing to inform you about the recent visit to your Radisson hotel on 15 Dec, 2025. The experience and service was top notch. Unfortunately, I want to mentioned that I forgot some crucial documents related to my business project, although they were in a side drawer next to bed.

In addition, they plays a significant role for my upcoming project, because they have all the requirements mentioned. So getting it back on time is really important.

Furthermore, If you find them there, while I request you to keep them in the safe place until i ll not retrieve them. I ll do some arrangements as soon as possible to bring them back on time.

I really appreciate your help in this situation.

Your sincerely,

Vikas

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 5.0

The letter addresses all three bullet points: the location of the papers, their importance, and the requested action. However, the response is significantly under the 150-word minimum requirement, which negatively impacts the development of ideas. The explanation of why the papers are important is quite brief and lacks detail. To improve, you should expand on the specific nature of the business project and the consequences of losing the documents. Because the response is under-length, it fails to fully develop the required points, resulting in a lower score for task achievement.

Coherence and Cohesion — Band 6.0

The letter is organized into paragraphs, which is a positive feature. However, the logical flow is occasionally hindered by awkward phrasing and limited use of cohesive devices. For example, the transition 'In addition, they plays a significant role' is grammatically incorrect and disrupts the flow. The use of 'Furthermore' is appropriate for a formal letter, but the overall progression of ideas feels somewhat disjointed due to the brevity of the sentences. To improve, ensure that each paragraph has a clear topic sentence and use a wider variety of linking words to connect your ideas more smoothly.

Lexical Resource — Band 5.5

The vocabulary is generally adequate for the task, but it lacks the range and precision expected at higher bands. Phrases like 'top notch' are slightly informal for a business letter, and there are errors in word choice, such as 'I want to mentioned' (should be 'mention') and 'do some arrangements' (should be 'make arrangements'). The range of vocabulary is limited, relying on basic descriptors. To improve, try to incorporate more formal business-appropriate collocations and ensure that you use the correct word forms to convey your message clearly and professionally.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 5.0

There are frequent grammatical errors throughout the text that occasionally impede clarity. Examples include subject-verb agreement issues ('they plays'), incorrect verb forms ('I want to mentioned'), and awkward sentence structures ('until i ll not retrieve them'). The range of grammatical structures is limited, consisting mostly of simple sentences with some attempts at complex ones that are often flawed. To improve, focus on mastering basic subject-verb agreement and verb tense consistency. Proofreading for common errors like 'I'll' (instead of 'i ll') and ensuring proper punctuation will also help raise your score.

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

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