Band 5.5 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 5.5 · Cambridge IELTS 11 · 2026-10-07

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,

Last weekend i stayed in your hotel for 1 week. I left my some documents in the in the wardrobe in room number 226 on second floor. I do not know how i forget my important document. It is not a piece of paper, it is future. It is my job offer letter, without this document i can not join the company. I just want you to take this paper from the wardrobe and keep it at safe place. I will come back in the last weekend of this month, so i will take it from you. I am really appreciate for that if you keep this for me.

Sincerely

Shivam Dhawan

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response: Band 5.0

You cover the three requested points: you identify room 226 as the location, explain that the papers are a job offer letter needed to join a company, and ask the manager to keep them safe until your return. These details make the purpose clear. However, the explanation and request are brief, and the response is 34 words below the required minimum, so the task is only partially developed. Add useful details, such as when you attended the meeting, how the manager can contact you, and what you would like them to do if the papers are not in the wardrobe. This would make the letter more complete and appropriately formal.

Coherence and Cohesion: Band 5.5

The information follows a generally sensible order: you describe your stay and the papers’ location, explain their importance, and then make a request. This helps the reader understand the purpose without difficulty. However, the letter is presented as one short block, and the ideas are connected mostly through simple sentence sequencing rather than clear paragraphing or linking. The repeated wording in “in the in the wardrobe” also interrupts the flow. Separate the location and explanation from your request, and use a few natural links such as “As these documents are essential…” or “Therefore, I would be grateful if…”. A clearer progression and more deliberate organisation would strengthen the letter.

Lexical Resource: Band 5.5

You use enough relevant vocabulary to communicate the main message, including “documents,” “wardrobe,” “job offer letter,” and “company.” The specific description of the papers helps the manager understand why they matter. However, the range is limited, and several expressions are inaccurate or unnatural, such as “I left my some documents,” “keep it at safe place,” and “I am really appreciate.” The phrase “it is future” does not clearly express the intended importance. Choose more precise, natural wording—for example, “employment offer,” “store them securely,” and “I would be very grateful.” This would make the letter clearer and more appropriate for a formal request.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy: Band 5.5

Most of the message can be understood, and you attempt to combine ideas using clauses, as in “without this document I can not join the company.” However, the response relies mainly on short, simple sentence patterns, and errors occur in basic structures. Examples include “Last weekend i stayed” (capitalisation), “I do not know how i forget” (tense), “I will come back in the last weekend” (preposition), and “I am really appreciate” (verb form). There are also missing or incorrect articles in “on second floor” and “at safe place.” Practise accurate past-tense narration and polite conditional requests, such as “I would be grateful if you could keep the documents securely until I return.”

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.