Band 6.5 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 6.5 · 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 6.5)

Dear Manager,

I am writing to show my dissatisfaction with my recent order from your website on 25 May last week.

I have graduation ceremony next week on 15 June. I to celebrate this memorable day wearing a beautiful gown as it is one in a life time moment. I have been a purchased many items from your website and have trust on your products quality and service. However, this time it is not acceptable.

As soon as I received the delivery I unpacked the box i found that the color was different than what it was presented on the website. I still tried on to check the fitting of the dress but it was too loose. I ordered small size dress although it is printed as small, there is huge difference which never happed before whenever I bought anything.

I want a full refund or early replacement of this dress as it is extremely crucial moment of my life to celebrate. I hope you regard my concern and understand my situation.

Looking forward to your prompt response on this issue.

Yours faithfully,

Sonam Prajapati

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 7.0

The letter addresses all three bullet points: purchase details, the nature of the problem, and the urgency of the replacement. The tone is appropriate for a formal complaint. However, the development of ideas is slightly uneven. While the urgency is explained, the description of the problem could be more precise regarding the specific color discrepancy. The letter is well-focused on the task requirements, and the purpose is clear from the beginning. To improve, ensure that the details provided are more specific, such as including an order number or the exact name of the item purchased.

Coherence and Cohesion — Band 6.5

The letter follows a logical progression, moving from the purpose of the letter to the details of the issue and finally the requested resolution. Paragraphing is used to separate these ideas, which helps the reader follow the argument. However, the use of cohesive devices is somewhat limited and occasionally mechanical. For instance, the transition between the description of the problem and the request for a refund could be smoother. Some sentences are slightly disjointed, such as the transition between the graduation mention and the purchase history. Improving the use of linking words would enhance the flow.

Lexical Resource — Band 6.0

The vocabulary is generally adequate for the task, allowing the writer to communicate their dissatisfaction clearly. There are some attempts at more specific vocabulary, such as 'memorable day' and 'prompt response'. However, there are several instances of awkward phrasing and word choice errors, such as 'I have been a purchased many items' and 'it is one in a life time moment'. These errors do not impede communication, but they do limit the range of vocabulary. Focusing on correct collocations and verb forms will help elevate the lexical score.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 5.5

The letter contains a mix of simple and complex sentence structures. While the meaning is generally clear, there are frequent grammatical errors, particularly with verb tenses and articles (e.g., 'I have graduation ceremony', 'I to celebrate', 'whenever I bought anything'). Some sentences are grammatically incomplete or awkward, such as 'I ordered small size dress although it is printed as small, there is huge difference'. These errors occur frequently but do not prevent the reader from understanding the message. Increasing the accuracy of basic sentence construction is the priority for improvement.

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