Band 6.0 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 6.0 · Cambridge IELTS 17 · 2026-08-24

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, I would like to get your attention at a very serious matter regarding my recent purchase from your outlet it was a formal attire that I was intended to wear on important business occasion but the quality of product was not satisfactory for me I would like to exchange or a refund as early as possible. The details of purchased article are as follows

A formal beige coat (code 046)

A off white shirt (code 453)

A navy blue skirt (code 653)

A formal pink suit (code 675)

I would prefer a refund but I am also ready for an exchange as I require the article deliver to my door step as early as possible as my event is approaching. I would be highly grateful for a quick response to solve my main concern at earliest so that I can manage my event without any further hustle or delay.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 6.0

The letter covers all three bullet points: purchase details, the problem, and the need for an urgent replacement. However, the development is somewhat thin. While you listed the items, the description of the 'problem' is vague; you mention the 'quality was not satisfactory' but do not explain what was specifically wrong (e.g., damaged fabric, incorrect size, or poor stitching). To reach a higher band, you should provide more specific details about the defects. The tone is generally appropriate for a formal complaint, though it lacks a clear, professional structure.

Coherence and Cohesion — Band 5.5

The letter lacks clear paragraphing, which is essential for a formal letter. The text is presented as a single block, making it difficult to follow the transition between the purchase details, the complaint, and the request for action. There is a lack of cohesive devices; sentences are often linked by simple conjunctions or run-on structures. To improve, you should use clear paragraph breaks for each section of the letter and employ a wider range of linking words such as 'consequently,' 'furthermore,' or 'in light of this' to guide the reader through your argument.

Lexical Resource — Band 6.0

The vocabulary is adequate for the task but lacks sophistication. You use basic phrases like 'get your attention' and 'not satisfactory.' There are also some errors in word choice and collocation, such as 'intended to wear on important business occasion' (should be 'an important business occasion') and 'hustle' (which usually refers to busy activity, whereas 'hassle' would be the correct term for inconvenience). Expanding your vocabulary to include more precise business-related terms would enhance the professional tone of your writing.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 5.5

The letter contains several grammatical errors, particularly regarding punctuation and sentence structure. There is a lack of full stops, leading to run-on sentences, such as '...as early as possible the details of purchased article are as follows.' Additionally, there are errors with articles ('a off white shirt' should be 'an off-white shirt') and verb forms ('require the article deliver' should be 'require the articles to be delivered'). While the meaning is generally clear, the frequent punctuation errors and lack of complex sentence structures limit the score.

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

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