Band 6.5 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 6.5 · Cambridge IELTS 17 · 2026-08-08

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 Sir,

I am writing this letter regarding the clothes I bought from your company.

I purchased the wedding suit online from your company's website on Tuesday. The order number is #3542 and most of the time I buy many clothes from this brand, but this time the Suit is tight and there is a cut on the left side pocket and the shirt also has some stains. This makes me a little disappointed because I trust this brand, as well as i love the quality of the clothes. I need that suit for my friend's wedding which is held on March 12th and all the special guests have a black dress code so, that is the main reason I need the replacement as soon as possible. Kindly send the same suit as a priority so, i can enjoy the wedding.

I hope you will take action on this as soon as possible.

Yours faithfully,

Sukhveer Singh

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 7.0

The response successfully addresses all three bullet points of the prompt. You clearly provided the purchase details (order number #3542), described the specific defects (tight fit, cut pocket, stains), and explained the urgency regarding the upcoming wedding on March 12th. The tone is appropriate for a formal complaint letter. To reach a higher band, you could expand slightly on the desired outcome, such as explicitly requesting a refund or a specific shipping method, rather than just asking for a replacement. Overall, the task is fully covered with a clear purpose.

Coherence and Cohesion — Band 6.5

The letter follows a logical progression, moving from the purchase details to the problem and finally the request for action. Paragraphing is present, though the structure is somewhat compressed. You use some cohesive devices like 'as well as' and 'so', but the flow could be improved by using more varied linking words to connect your ideas more fluidly. For instance, the transition between describing the damage and explaining the urgency could be smoother. The use of referencing is generally clear, and the letter maintains a consistent focus throughout.

Lexical Resource — Band 6.0

The vocabulary is adequate for the task, allowing you to convey your message clearly. You use some relevant terms like 'order number', 'replacement', and 'priority'. However, the range is somewhat limited and relies on basic phrasing. To improve, try to incorporate more precise collocations or topic-specific vocabulary related to customer service, such as 'defective item', 'unsatisfactory condition', or 'expedited shipping'. There are no significant spelling errors, and the word choice is functional, though it lacks the sophistication required for higher bands.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 6.0

You demonstrate a mix of simple and complex sentence structures. While the meaning is always clear, there are some grammatical slips, such as the inconsistent capitalization of 'i' and 'Suit', and minor punctuation issues. The sentence 'most of the time I buy many clothes from this brand, but this time the Suit is tight...' is a bit run-on. You have good control over basic tenses, but incorporating a wider variety of complex structures—such as passive voice for the complaint ('The suit was received in a damaged condition')—would enhance your score.

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

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