You have just spent a weekend staying at the Lilo Hotel in Adelaide. When you got home, you find that you have left a bag at the hotel. Write a letter to the manager of the hotel. In your letter: - introduce yourself - describe the bag and its content - describe how you left your bag and what action you would expect from him/her
Sample Response
Dear Sir or Madam, My name is Martin Ben, and I am writing this letter to inform you that I left a bag at your hotel before leaving AdelaideI have left a bag at your hotel before leaving Adelaide. Unfortunately, I realised this mistakecame to know about this mistake only after arriving at Sydney Airport. I stayed in room number 221, and I might have left the bag in one of the cabinetsone of the closed cabinets of the TV stand. Now, to describe the bag for your convenience, it is a small black men's handbaga small, black handbag for men, and it has a single white strapa single white colour belt. As for its contents, the bag has some precious drawings of my little niece, who drew them for me. Besides, it also contains a few precious gifts, which were chosenit also has a few precious gifts which were chosen and bought by my family members. For that reason, the little bag is pricelessSo the little bag is priceless to me because of its emotional value. Once you find the bagSo, once you find the bag, please send it to me by couriersend it to me in a courier mail service. Please also do not forgetAnd, also please do not forget to charge the courier fee tofrom my credit card. By the way, the credit card information should be on filethe credit card information should in on your file. Yours faithfully, Martin Ben
Why this response received Band 7.5
The letter fully explains who the guest is, identifies the bag and its sentimental contents, states where it was probably left, and requests its return. Its main limitation is presentation: the response remains one block, repeats linking words, and includes several awkward expressions plus a conspicuous final typo. Prioritise organising the details into three short paragraphs, varying transitions, and proofreading the courier request, contact method, and payment wording.
IELTS Writing Criteria Scores
Task Achievement
The letter introduces the guest, describes the bag and contents, explains where it was left, and asks the hotel to send it by courier. The task is fully addressed, though the requested action could include contact details or confirmation.
Add a phone number or email request and ask the manager to confirm when the bag is found.
Coherence and Cohesion
The information is logically ordered, but the response is a single block and uses repeated 'So' at the start of consecutive sentences.
Paragraph the letter by introduction, bag description, and requested action, and vary the linking language.
Lexical Resource
Vocabulary is generally appropriate, with clear hotel and bag details, but some expressions are unnatural or repetitive.
Use natural phrases such as 'men's black handbag', 'by courier', and 'kept on file'.
Grammatical Range and Accuracy
Grammar is mostly clear, but there are small errors in tense, articles, and prepositions, including one serious typo near the end.
Proofread preposition phrases and check final requests carefully.
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IELTS General Training Writing Task 1
You have just spent a weekend staying at the Lilo Hotel in Adelaide. When you got home, you find that you have left a bag at the hotel. Write a letter to the manager of the hotel. In your letter:
- introduce yourself
- describe the bag and its content
- describe how you left your bag and what action you would expect from him/her
Your response
Write the task yourself, then compare your choices with the annotated response.