Band 6.0 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 6.0 · Cambridge IELTS 17 · 2026-08-21

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 or Madam,

I am writing to inform you about the issue which i just got to know. It is about my recent clothing purchase. Last week i did online shopping from GAP website. I bought some t-shirts and pants.

The problem is that the cloths are not in my size, they are one size smaller than mine. I ordered medium size but i think they sent me small size by mistake. In addition, one t-shirt is little bit damaged as well it has one big scar on the back side.

Moreover, I would like to make one request can you plz replace my whole order as soon as possible and deliver me the new order of my size. I am going for my trip next week and i need those attires, as we all friends have decided to wear similar color outfit.

I am hoping to receive prompt reply from you.

Yours faithfully,

Vipal Patel.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 6.5

You have addressed all three bullet points of the task: providing purchase details, describing the problem, and explaining the urgency. The tone is appropriate for a formal complaint letter. However, the development of ideas is somewhat basic. For example, while you mention the items are the wrong size and damaged, adding a specific order number or date would have made the letter more professional and realistic. The explanation for the urgency is clear, but could be expanded slightly to ensure the reader fully understands the necessity of the replacement. Overall, the task is fulfilled effectively.

Coherence and Cohesion — Band 6.5

The letter is logically organized into clear paragraphs, each serving a specific purpose. You use basic cohesive devices such as 'In addition', 'Moreover', and 'Last week' to link your ideas. While the progression of information is easy to follow, the use of cohesive devices is somewhat mechanical. To reach a higher band, you could vary your linking words and ensure that transitions between sentences are smoother. The paragraphing is appropriate for a formal letter, and the overall structure supports the reader's understanding of the situation.

Lexical Resource — Band 6.0

Your vocabulary is adequate for the task, allowing you to communicate the issue clearly. You use relevant terms like 'online shopping', 'purchase', and 'replacement'. However, there is a reliance on simple, repetitive language. There are also some minor inaccuracies, such as using 'cloths' (which refers to cleaning rags) instead of 'clothes' or 'garments', and 'scar' instead of 'tear' or 'defect'. To improve, try to incorporate more precise vocabulary related to retail and customer service to demonstrate a wider range of lexical control.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 5.5

You demonstrate a mix of simple and complex sentence structures. While the meaning is always clear, there are frequent grammatical errors, such as the failure to capitalize 'I', the use of 'plz' (which is inappropriate for a formal letter), and punctuation issues like run-on sentences (e.g., '...damaged as well it has one big scar...'). Additionally, there are minor errors in article usage and subject-verb agreement. To improve, focus on proofreading for basic errors and avoid informal abbreviations to ensure your writing maintains a consistent formal tone.

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

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