Band 5.0 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer
Overall Band Score: 5.0 · Cambridge IELTS 11 · 2026-09-17
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 hope you feel better at last three night I was stay in your hotel. I was left my project file in your hotel which project is start from tomorrow. I think in room number 123 beside the bed on the table. those files contain 15 to 17 papers and cover with red color VIP file. I had been spending too much time on the preparation of those files and That papers are very important to me without these papers I cannot start my project.
So please I request to you that check your CCTV of these room for last 3 days and also search those papers in your hotel in room 123 and give file my debt to the reception counter of your hotel. I will receive tonight to start my project from tomorrow with my team.
I will be thankful to you. For your help to us
AI examiner evaluation
| Criterion | Band |
|---|---|
| Task Achievement / Task Response | 5.5 |
| Coherence and Cohesion | 5.0 |
| Lexical Resource | 5.0 |
| Grammatical Range and Accuracy | 5.0 |
| Overall | 5.0 |
Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 5.5
The response covers all three bullet points required by the task instructions. You successfully stated where you think you left the papers (room number 123 beside the bed on the table), explained why they are important for your upcoming project starting tomorrow, and told the manager what action to take, namely checking the CCTV, searching the room, and leaving the file at the reception desk. However, the greeting does not match the requested prompt (Dear Sir or Madam), and the ideas are presented in a slightly rushed, block-like manner with limited extension. Because all parts of the prompt are addressed, this meets the requirements for a Band 5.5 to 6.0. Due to some under-developed and abrupt transitions in covering the points, a score of 5.5 is appropriate.
Coherence and Cohesion — Band 5.0
The letter lacks proper paragraphing, as it is condensed into two large blocks of text that mix multiple ideas together. The opening lacks a formal salutation matching the prompt, starting with 'Dear Manager' instead of 'Dear Sir or Madam'. Cohesive devices are minimal, mechanical, and sometimes inaccurate, such as using 'So please I request to you that...' which creates awkward transitions between sentences. There is a lack of overall logical progression, making the sequence of thoughts feel slightly disjointed. Referencing is occasionally unclear, as seen with pronouns like 'those files' and 'That papers'. Based on these features, the organization aligns best with Band 5.0.
Lexical Resource — Band 5.0
The vocabulary used is basic and repetitive, frequently relying on simple words like 'files', 'papers', 'hotel', and 'room'. There are noticeable word choice and collocation errors throughout the text, such as 'give file my debt' instead of 'leave the file' and 'I was left my project file' instead of 'I left my project file'. Spelling and word formation are generally basic, but communication is not severely impeded as the core message remains understandable. The lexical range is limited and minimally adequate for the task, which corresponds directly to the Band 5 descriptors.
Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 5.0
The text displays a very limited range of grammatical structures. Simple sentences dominate, and attempts at complex structures are frequently faulty, such as 'three night I was stay in your hotel' and 'which project is start from tomorrow'. There are persistent, frequent errors in verb tenses, voice, and prepositions throughout the response, including 'I was left', 'That papers are', and 'I request to you that check'. While the meaning is generally decipherable, these grammatical errors cause noticeable difficulty for the reader and restrict the control of grammar, placing the response firmly at Band 5.0.
See this exact question answered at other band scores — the same prompt compared across bands.
Browse more IELTS Writing model answers or get your own writing scored by the same AI examiner.