Band 6.5 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 6.5 · Cambridge IELTS 17 · 2026-11-11

IELTS Writing Task 1 question

You have bought some clothing online and are not satisfied with your purchase.

Write a letter to the company that you bought the clothing from. In your email:

• give details of the purchase
• describe the problem
• explain why you need a replacement urgently

You do NOT need to write any addresses.

Begin your letter as follows:

Dear Sir or Madam,

Student answer (Band 6.5)

Dear Sir,

I am writing this letter in order to return a product that I bought from your website as there is a problem with it. Additionaly, I would like to request a replacement as I need it urgently. To begin with, I ordered a pair of trousers from your online store. It was a dark blue pair of trouser having the company logo on its back side. The size of waist is 34, and it is silk based which is suitable for longer walks. The price of it was around $42.

However, when this product was delivered at my address, I found something which was not as per my requirement. The size of waist that I ordered was 36, however, the product that was delivered to me has a size of 34. Additionaly, I ordered a pair of Nike trouser, unfortunately, your store delievered a different company product.

Therefore, I would request to replace this order of mine. Also, I would be grateful if you deliver it as soon as possible. Preferablly, before 10th of June. The reason behind this request is that I have to attend a running marathon which is scheduled on 11th of June. Therefore, I need this product before this deadline.

I look forward to hearing from you.

Yours sincerely,

Zain

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response: Band 7.5

The letter clearly covers all three required points: you identify the purchase, explain the incorrect size and brand, and request a prompt replacement because of the marathon on 11 June. The specific details—such as the $42 price and the requested delivery before 10 June—make the complaint credible and give the company a clear action to take. The reason for urgency is particularly well supported. To make the response more fully developed, clarify the conflicting size information: you first say the trousers ordered were size 34, then state that you ordered size 36. Also specify whether you want the incorrect item collected or returned, and include an order number if available. These refinements would make the request more precise.

Coherence and Cohesion: Band 6.5

The information is arranged in a sensible sequence: the purpose of the letter comes first, followed by purchase details, the problem, and the urgent replacement request. Paragraphing helps distinguish these stages, and the closing is appropriate. Linking expressions such as “However,” “Therefore,” and “Also” make the progression easy to follow. At times, though, the connections feel mechanical or repetitive: “Therefore” appears twice close together, and “Additionaly” is repeated. The size contradiction also interrupts the flow because the reader must work out which size was ordered. Use a clearer sequence of reference—for example, state the ordered size once, then contrast it directly with the size received—and vary or reduce the linking phrases.

Lexical Resource: Band 6.0

You use an adequate range of vocabulary for a formal complaint, including “replacement,” “delivered,” “request,” and “scheduled,” and the message remains clear. There are also attempts at more specific description, such as “dark blue” and “silk based.” However, some word choices and collocations are inaccurate or unnatural, including “return a product” when the main request is for an exchange, “size of waist,” and “company logo on its back side.” Spelling errors such as “Additionaly,” “delievered,” and “Preferablly” also reduce accuracy. Choose conventional clothing and customer-service terms, and proofread carefully. More precise phrasing would make the complaint sound more natural and professional without requiring a much wider vocabulary.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy: Band 6.0

The letter includes a mix of simple and complex sentence forms, such as “I am writing… as there is a problem with it” and “The reason behind this request is that I have to attend a running marathon.” Most sentences communicate the intended meaning, and the errors rarely prevent understanding. Some grammatical inaccuracies remain, however. For example, “a pair of trouser” should use the plural form “trousers,” and “The size of waist is 34” needs an article and a more complete construction. The sentence beginning “The size of waist that I ordered was 36, however…” also joins two independent clauses with only a comma. Use a full stop or semicolon before “however,” and check articles, plurals, and sentence boundaries during revision.

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