Band 6.5 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 6.5 · Cambridge IELTS 17 · 2026-07-31

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 to express my dissatisfaction with my recent purchase from your website. I decided to order a formal shirt after browsing so many clothes.

I purchased a navy blue shirt in a medium size. I got the parcel yesterday, and I was so excited when I opened it. I saw that the color did not match the picture that I chose to buy. Moreover, I ordered a medium size, but I got a large, which is very disappointing.

I bought this shirt for my business meeting that is held next week, and I do not have any other choice but to wear this shirt. I would really appreciate it if you could replace it with a new shirt, as per this request.

I am looking forward to your prompt response.

Yours sincerely,

Parminder Kaur

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 6.0

The letter covers all three bullet points: purchase details, the problem, and the need for an urgent replacement. However, the response is 138 words, which falls short of the 150-word minimum requirement. This under-length impacts the development of the ideas, as the explanation for the urgency is quite brief. To improve, you should expand on the consequences of the incorrect order, perhaps by describing the meeting in more detail or explaining the impact of the delay. While the tone is appropriate for a formal letter, the lack of sufficient length prevents a higher score.

Coherence and Cohesion — Band 7.0

The letter is logically organized with a clear introduction, body, and conclusion. Paragraphing is used correctly to separate the different points. You use some cohesive devices such as 'Moreover' and 'as per this request' to link ideas. However, the flow is somewhat simple, and the transition between the description of the problem and the request for a replacement could be smoother. To reach a higher band, try to use a wider variety of linking words and ensure that the progression of ideas feels more natural and less mechanical.

Lexical Resource — Band 6.5

The vocabulary is adequate for the task, allowing you to convey your meaning clearly. You use relevant terms like 'dissatisfaction', 'formal shirt', and 'prompt response'. However, the range is somewhat limited and relies on fairly basic phrasing. For example, 'I saw that the color did not match' could be more precise. To improve, try to incorporate more sophisticated collocations or topic-specific vocabulary related to customer service and retail complaints to demonstrate a broader range of lexical control.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 6.5

Your grammar is generally accurate, and most sentences are easy to follow. You use a mix of simple and complex structures, such as 'I would really appreciate it if you could replace it'. There are no major errors that impede communication. However, to achieve a higher band, you should aim to include a wider variety of complex sentence structures and ensure consistent control over punctuation and verb tenses. The current range is sufficient for a 6.0, but more variety would be beneficial.

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