Band 5.0 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 5.0 · Cambridge IELTS 17 · 2026-08-10

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 or Madam,

I am writing to you this email to inform you that I am not satisfied with my last order from your website.

I ordered two dresses that were in the new collection section but the problem was you sent me the size wrong and I have a party after two days so I urgently need to replace the order with the correct size.

I am waiting to here from you.

yours faithfully,

Manal

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 4.0

The response fails to meet the minimum word count requirement of 150 words, which significantly impacts the task achievement. While you have addressed the three bullet points—giving details of the purchase, describing the problem, and explaining the urgency—the ideas are extremely underdeveloped. The letter lacks the necessary detail and formal tone expected in a professional complaint. To improve, you must expand on each point by providing specific information, such as order numbers, dates, and a more detailed explanation of the clothing issue. Because the response is less than half the required length, it cannot be awarded a higher band.

Coherence and Cohesion — Band 5.0

The letter is very brief, making it difficult to assess the use of cohesive devices. There is a basic attempt at paragraphing, but the lack of content means there is no real progression of ideas. The transition between the problem and the request for a replacement is abrupt. To improve, you should use linking words and phrases (e.g., 'consequently', 'furthermore', 'in addition') to connect your sentences more fluidly and ensure the letter follows a logical structure that guides the reader through your complaint.

Lexical Resource — Band 5.0

The vocabulary used is very basic and repetitive. Phrases like 'the problem was you sent me the size wrong' are grammatically awkward and lack the professional tone required for a formal letter. You rely on simple, everyday language rather than demonstrating a range of vocabulary suitable for a formal complaint. To achieve a higher score, you should incorporate more precise, topic-specific vocabulary related to retail, such as 'incorrect sizing', 'rectify the situation', or 'expedited shipping'.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 5.0

The response contains several grammatical errors that hinder clarity. For example, 'I am writing to you this email' is redundant and incorrect; it should be 'I am writing this email to you'. Additionally, 'I am waiting to here from you' contains a spelling error ('here' instead of 'hear'). The sentence structures are simple and lack the complexity required for higher bands. You need to focus on using a variety of sentence structures, including complex sentences, while ensuring that basic grammar and spelling are accurate.

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

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