Band 5.5 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer
Overall Band Score: 5.5 · Cambridge IELTS 17 · 2026-08-07
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/Madam,
I am writing this letter to express my dissatisfaction towards the hoodie that I bought from your store two days prior.
To begin with, it was white color OVO hoodie from from the metropolis Metrotown. The hoodie has tag on it and it was a fresh piece when i selected the product. What I believe is that someone intentionally spoiled the hoodie. I was so excited as i have to give this to my younger brother on his birthday which is in just two days.
Sadly, when I came home and was about to show my hoodie to my mom, I was so mad seeing the hoodie in such a bad condition. My all excitement went into sorrow. Additionally, the stuff I choose was not up to the mark. This was not the same hoodie that I selected at the store.
Therefore, I need the replacement as earliest as possible. This was the present I had to give to my brother. Could you please replace this hoodie and deliver the other in the same color but with the best shine.
Looking forward to hear the positive response from this side.
Ridhima.
AI examiner evaluation
| Criterion | Band |
|---|---|
| Task Achievement / Task Response | 5.5 |
| Coherence and Cohesion | 6.0 |
| Lexical Resource | 5.5 |
| Grammatical Range and Accuracy | 5.5 |
| Overall | 5.5 |
Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 5.5
The letter covers all three bullet points: purchase details, the problem, and the need for an urgent replacement. However, the tone is inconsistent and occasionally inappropriate for a formal complaint. For instance, phrases like 'I was so mad' and 'My all excitement went into sorrow' are overly emotional and informal. While the task requirements are met, the development of ideas is somewhat simplistic. To reach a higher band, the student should maintain a professional, objective tone throughout and provide more specific details regarding the purchase, such as an order number or specific defect description, rather than vague statements like 'the stuff I choose was not up to the mark'.
Coherence and Cohesion — Band 6.0
The letter is organized into logical paragraphs, which helps the reader follow the narrative. There is a clear progression from the purchase details to the problem and the requested solution. However, the use of cohesive devices is somewhat mechanical and limited. Transitions like 'To begin with' and 'Therefore' are used, but the flow between sentences within paragraphs is occasionally disjointed. For example, the transition from describing the hoodie's condition to the disappointment felt by the writer is abrupt. Improving the variety of linking words and ensuring smoother transitions between ideas would enhance the overall coherence.
Lexical Resource — Band 5.5
The vocabulary is generally adequate for the task but lacks the precision and sophistication expected at higher bands. There are some awkward collocations, such as 'the stuff I choose' (referring to material/quality) and 'deliver the other in the same color but with the best shine'. The use of 'stuff' is too informal for a formal letter. While the student attempts to convey their frustration, the word choice is repetitive and lacks the professional register required for a formal complaint. Expanding the range of vocabulary to include more precise terms related to retail and customer service would be beneficial.
Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 5.5
The student uses a mix of simple and complex sentence structures, but there are frequent errors in grammar and punctuation. Examples include 'I am writing this letter to express my dissatisfaction towards the hoodie' (preposition error), 'it was white color OVO hoodie' (missing article), and 'Looking forward to hear' (should be 'hearing'). Additionally, there are minor errors with capitalization and word order, such as 'from from the metropolis'. While these errors do not prevent the message from being understood, they occur frequently enough to impact the overall fluency and accuracy of the writing.
See this exact question answered at other band scores — the same prompt compared across bands.
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