Band 5.0 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 5.0 · 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 5.0)

Dear Sir/Madam,

I am writing this letter to express my dissatisfactory experience regarding the hoodie I bought from your store yesterday.

To begin with, it was white in color hoodie which I received in black color. The product number is 4HZKLLU7 under the name of Ridhima from metropolis Metrotown. It was not even =wrapped properly. Just was tapped all around.

Allow me to explain the situation, the hoodie that I selected was in size medium but when i received the parcel it was size XL. Furthermore, the hoodei

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 4.0

The response fails to meet the minimum word count requirement of 150 words, reaching only 88 words. Consequently, the task is only partially addressed. While you mention the purchase details and the problem, the third bullet point regarding the urgent need for a replacement is completely absent as the letter cuts off mid-sentence. The ideas are significantly under-developed due to the incomplete nature of the response. To improve, you must ensure all three bullet points are addressed with sufficient detail and that you reach the required length to fully develop your ideas.

Coherence and Cohesion — Band 5.0

The letter lacks a clear structure due to its unfinished state. While there is an attempt at paragraphing, the abrupt ending prevents a logical flow or a proper conclusion. Cohesive devices are minimal; for example, 'To begin with' is used, but the subsequent progression is interrupted. The lack of a closing salutation and the incomplete final sentence further disrupt the coherence of the message. To improve, ensure that each paragraph has a clear purpose and that you use linking words to connect your ideas logically from start to finish.

Lexical Resource — Band 5.0

The vocabulary is basic and contains some inaccuracies, such as 'dissatisfactory experience' (should be 'dissatisfaction with' or 'unsatisfactory experience') and 'tapped all around' (likely meant 'taped'). The range of vocabulary is limited, which restricts your ability to convey the situation with precision. While the message is generally understandable, the errors in word choice and the repetitive nature of the phrasing hinder the quality of the writing. Focus on using more precise collocations and expanding your range of descriptive adjectives to better articulate your complaints.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 5.0

There are several grammatical errors, such as 'it was white in color hoodie' (should be 'the hoodie was white') and 'Just was tapped' (missing subject). Sentence structures are simple and often fragmented. The punctuation is also inconsistent, particularly in the second paragraph. While the errors do not completely prevent the reader from understanding the basic issue, they are frequent enough to cause difficulty. You should practice constructing complete, grammatically correct sentences and pay closer attention to word order and subject-verb agreement.

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

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