Band 6.0 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 6.0 · Cambridge IELTS 17 · 2026-08-06

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 6.0)

Dear Sir,

I am writing to express my dissatisfaction with a recent purchase from your online store and would like to request a replacement.

To begin with, I recently purchased a Zara suit through your website. Unfortunately, after receiving the package, I found that it was defective around the shoulder area.

One of the main issues with the suit was the stitches, it had come apart on both sides and around the collar. Although I was informed by the staff that a tie would included, i could not find it.

Since I brought it specifically for my upcoming graduation, I cannot wear it on that special day. Consequently, I am in urgent need of a replacement of the suit.

I would appreciate it if you could send a replacement as soon as possible so that I can wear it for my graduation ceremony.

Yours faithfully,

Om Pethani

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 5.5

The letter addresses all three bullet points: providing purchase details, describing the defect, and explaining the urgency. However, the response is 147 words, falling short of the 150-word minimum requirement. This under-length impacts the overall task achievement score. While the tone is appropriate for a formal complaint, the development of ideas is slightly thin. To improve, you should expand on the details of the purchase (e.g., order number or date) and provide a more descriptive account of the impact of the missing items to ensure the response comfortably exceeds the word count threshold.

Coherence and Cohesion — Band 7.0

The letter is logically organized with a clear introduction, body paragraphs, and a closing. Paragraphing is used appropriately to separate the different points of the task. Cohesive devices such as 'To begin with', 'Although', and 'Consequently' are used to link ideas effectively. The progression of the letter is easy to follow, and the purpose of the communication remains clear throughout. To reach a higher band, ensure that the transition between the description of the defect and the request for a replacement is even more fluid.

Lexical Resource — Band 6.0

You demonstrate an adequate range of vocabulary for the task, using terms like 'dissatisfaction', 'defective', and 'ceremony'. However, there are some minor errors in word choice and collocation, such as 'I brought it' (should be 'bought') and 'a tie would included' (missing 'be'). These errors do not impede communication, but they indicate a need for more careful proofreading. To improve, focus on using more precise collocations and ensuring that auxiliary verbs are correctly included in passive constructions.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 6.0

The letter uses a mix of simple and complex sentence structures. There are some grammatical slips, such as the comma splice in 'the stitches, it had come apart' and the missing 'be' in 'would included'. Additionally, there is a capitalization error with 'i' in the third paragraph. While these errors are noticeable, they do not prevent the reader from understanding your message. To improve, focus on sentence boundary punctuation and ensuring that complex verb forms are constructed accurately.

See this exact question answered at other band scores — the same prompt compared across bands.

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