Band 5.5 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 5.5 · Cambridge IELTS 17 · 2026-07-26

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 5.5)

Dear Sir,

I Brought something from website Which is wrong

To begin with, last week I ordered a Headphones form JBL which was very needly for me. However, when I got that it was wrong headphones I ordered a wireless headphones but That was with wire. I am social person every time I use the earphones. Moreover, last time I brought headphones from Boat company But that Ones not good then I friend gave me suggestion to now buy form JBL but Now I received the wrong one it was a big mistake by the shipping department.

In the last ,I would request to you please give me new wireless headphones because I need it urgent with headphones It is hard for me to travel also because every time I listen music it’s mandatory for me.

Your sincerely

Sujal

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 5.5

The response covers all three bullet points: purchase details, the problem, and the need for a replacement. However, the development of these points is limited. The letter is also under the 150-word minimum requirement, which negatively impacts the task achievement score. The tone is somewhat informal and lacks the professional register expected in a formal letter of complaint. To improve, you should expand on the details of the purchase (e.g., order number, date) and provide a more formal explanation for the urgency of the replacement.

Coherence and Cohesion — Band 6.0

The letter is divided into paragraphs, which helps the reader follow the structure. However, the use of cohesive devices is mechanical and sometimes inaccurate, such as 'In the last' to introduce the final paragraph. The logical flow between sentences is occasionally disrupted by grammatical errors, making it difficult to follow the narrative of your experience with the headphones. Using a wider range of linking words like 'consequently', 'furthermore', or 'therefore' would help improve the flow and clarity of your arguments.

Lexical Resource — Band 5.5

The vocabulary is quite basic and repetitive. You use 'headphones' frequently and struggle with word choice, such as 'very needly' instead of 'essential' or 'necessary'. There are also issues with word forms, such as 'Brought' instead of 'bought' and 'social person' which does not clearly convey your meaning in this context. To reach a higher band, you should focus on using more precise vocabulary related to shopping and customer service, such as 'defective', 'incorrect item', 'refund', or 'expedited shipping'.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 5.5

There are frequent grammatical errors throughout the text, including subject-verb agreement issues ('that Ones not good'), incorrect tense usage ('last time I brought'), and punctuation errors. Sentence structures are mostly simple, and attempts at more complex sentences often contain errors that impede clarity. For example, 'I am social person every time I use the earphones' is grammatically fragmented and unclear. Focusing on basic sentence construction and ensuring correct verb tenses will significantly improve your accuracy and readability.

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