Band 6.5 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 6.5 · Cambridge IELTS 17 · 2026-08-25

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 to complain about an online clothing order I placed on August 10, 2026. My order number is #88412, and it includes a black wool sweater in size medium. The package arrived at my home on August 18, 2026.I am very unhappy with the item. The sweater has a noticeable rip along the left shoulder seam. Furthermore, the fabric feels rough and cheap, which does not match the premium description on your website.I need a replacement urgently. I bought this sweater specifically to wear for an important work conference that starts next Monday, August 31, 2026. I have no other suitable professional winter clothing for the event.Please send a replacement sweater using express shipping so it arrives before this weekend. Kindly email me the return label details for the damaged item as well.

Yours faithfully,

Justin

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 5.5

The letter covers all three bullet points: providing purchase details, describing the defect, and explaining the urgency. However, the response is 141 words, failing to meet the 150-word minimum requirement. This under-length significantly impacts the development of the ideas, as the letter feels somewhat abrupt. While the tone is appropriate for a formal complaint, the lack of sufficient length prevents a higher score. To improve, you should expand on the impact of the damaged item or provide more context regarding your expectations for the resolution.

Coherence and Cohesion — Band 7.0

The letter is logically organised, with each paragraph addressing one of the required points. The progression of ideas is clear, moving from the purchase details to the problem and finally the requested solution. Cohesive devices such as 'Furthermore' and 'specifically' are used effectively to link sentences. However, the paragraphing is slightly cramped, and the overall flow could be improved by using a wider variety of linking phrases to connect the ideas more fluidly. The structure is functional and easy to follow.

Lexical Resource — Band 7.0

You have used a good range of vocabulary appropriate for a formal complaint, such as 'noticeable rip', 'premium description', and 'suitable professional winter clothing'. The word choice is generally accurate and conveys the intended meaning clearly. There are no significant spelling or collocation errors. To reach a higher band, you could incorporate more sophisticated or precise vocabulary, such as 'defective' instead of 'unhappy with the item' or 'expedited shipping' instead of 'express shipping'.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 7.0

The grammar is generally accurate, with a mix of simple and complex sentence structures. You have used correct verb tenses, such as the past simple for the purchase and the present perfect for the complaint. Punctuation is mostly correct, though there is a minor spacing error after the full stop in the first paragraph. The sentences are clear and error-free for the most part, which demonstrates good control. To improve, try to vary your sentence length and structure further to demonstrate greater grammatical flexibility.

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

Browse more IELTS Writing model answers or get your own writing scored by the same AI examiner.