Band 5.0 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer
Overall Band Score: 5.0 · Cambridge IELTS 17 · 2026-08-04
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 5.0)
Subject- Not satisfied from online clothing
Dear- Sir/ Madam,
I hope you are doing well,
I am writing to complain about some online purchasing, which is not well from my expectations. I purchased it from Zara site. Also, it is very popular. Few days ago, I purchased dress. The size of this dress is too loose and their fabric is not good according to the price.
In addition, I organized a party on my birthday. However, I am not satisfied from my dress. There color is purple, but I chose red.
AI examiner evaluation
| Criterion | Band |
|---|---|
| Task Achievement / Task Response | 4.0 |
| Coherence and Cohesion | 5.0 |
| Lexical Resource | 5.0 |
| Grammatical Range and Accuracy | 5.0 |
| Overall | 5.0 |
Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 4.0
The response fails to meet the minimum word count requirement of 150 words, reaching only 91 words. Consequently, the task is only partially addressed. While you mention the purchase (a dress from Zara) and the problems (size, fabric, and incorrect color), the explanation for why a replacement is needed urgently is missing entirely. To improve, you must expand on each bullet point, providing specific details and a clear justification for the urgency of the request. The letter is significantly underdeveloped, which prevents a higher score.
Coherence and Cohesion — Band 5.0
The letter lacks a clear structure. While there is a basic attempt at paragraphing, the ideas are disjointed and lack logical progression. Cohesive devices are minimal or misused, such as the abrupt transition 'Also, it is very popular,' which does not contribute to the flow of the complaint. The letter lacks a formal closing, which is essential for this task type. To improve, use linking words like 'furthermore,' 'consequently,' or 'therefore' to connect your ideas and ensure each paragraph focuses on a single, well-developed point.
Lexical Resource — Band 5.0
The vocabulary is basic and repetitive, often relying on simple sentence structures. There are noticeable errors in word choice and collocation, such as 'not well from my expectations' instead of 'did not meet my expectations' and 'purchasing' used where 'purchase' is required. The phrase 'not satisfied from' is also incorrect; the correct preposition is 'with.' The range of vocabulary is limited, which restricts your ability to convey your dissatisfaction effectively. Expanding your range of descriptive adjectives and formal business terminology would significantly improve your score.
Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 5.0
The response contains frequent grammatical errors that occasionally impede clarity. Examples include 'I am writing to complain about some online purchasing,' 'There color is purple,' and 'I organized a party on my birthday' (which is contextually confusing). The sentence structures are simple and lack the variety required for higher bands. There are also issues with punctuation and capitalization, such as the incorrect use of hyphens and commas. You should focus on mastering basic sentence construction, subject-verb agreement, and correct preposition usage before attempting more complex structures.
See this exact question answered at other band scores — the same prompt compared across bands.
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