Band 6.5 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 6.5 · Cambridge IELTS 17 · 2026-08-23

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 to express dissatisfaction regarding my recent online purchase from your website last week. I bought a camel coloured leather jacket along with a formal white shirt in size large for both in context to an upcoming official conference. Before making payment, I have double checked the size, colour and fabric description in details, which seemed favorable to me.

Yesterday, parcel had been received and I was really desperate with the size and colour as it was not the same as my preference. The shirt is of xtra-large size and of sky blue color. Jacket, on other hand, is black in shade. It is the consequence of your negligence which ruined my day.

I am returning the package back and requesting for the immediate replacement with compensation voucher. Moreover, I assume your company will consider my feedback positively and manage the activities effectively and efficiently.

Yours faithfully,

Mark Roberts

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 7.0

You have addressed all three bullet points of the task: providing purchase details, describing the problem, and explaining the need for a replacement. The tone is appropriate for a formal complaint letter. However, the development of the third point is slightly weak; while you mention the need for a replacement, you do not explicitly explain why it is 'urgent' beyond mentioning an 'upcoming official conference'. To reach a higher band, ensure that the connection between the error and the urgency is more clearly articulated. Overall, the purpose of the letter is clear and the task requirements are met.

Coherence and Cohesion — Band 7.0

The letter is logically organized into clear paragraphs, each serving a specific purpose. You use some cohesive devices, such as 'Moreover' and 'on other hand', to link ideas. However, there are some minor issues with cohesion; for instance, 'on other hand' is missing the definite article 'the', and the transition between the problem description and the request for a replacement could be smoother. The paragraphing is appropriate, and the progression of ideas is easy to follow throughout the text.

Lexical Resource — Band 6.0

You demonstrate an adequate range of vocabulary for the task, using terms like 'dissatisfaction', 'negligence', and 'compensation'. There are a few instances of awkward phrasing or minor errors, such as 'desperate with the size' (which is an incorrect collocation; 'disappointed' or 'dissatisfied' would be better) and 'xtra-large' (which should be written as 'extra-large'). While the vocabulary is sufficient to convey your meaning clearly, it lacks the precision and variety required for a higher band score.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 6.0

You use a mix of simple and complex sentence structures. There are several grammatical errors, such as 'parcel had been received' (passive voice is slightly awkward here; 'I received the parcel' is more natural), 'in context to' (should be 'in preparation for'), and missing articles (e.g., 'Jacket, on other hand'). Despite these errors, the meaning remains clear, and the mistakes do not impede communication. To improve, focus on article usage and ensuring that passive constructions are used only when necessary for the context.

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

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