Band 6.0 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 6.0 · 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 6.0)

Dear Manager,

I hope you are doing well. I am writing this email to let you know that recently I have bought a kurta online. It is of medium-size, navy blue in colour with red buttons. I have made a transaction of nine thousand rupees through my credit card. Unfortunately, I am not satisfied with the product as it is too loose and the quality is not up to the mark. Your company is a reputable clothing brand in the country so you should make sure to check the article before delivering to the customers.

Overall, I am disappointed because I was expecting a better finishing and quality. Nonetheless, I am regretting on my decision now. I have my friend's wedding coming up in couple of days so I want an urgent replacement. I hope you are understanding my situation as I am already feeling quite anxious.

I will be waiting to hear from you soon.

Yours sincerely

Arslan Abbas

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 6.5

The response covers all three bullet points required by the prompt: details of the purchase, the nature of the problem, and the reason for an urgent replacement. The tone is appropriate for a formal complaint letter. However, the development of ideas is somewhat basic. For instance, while you mention the quality is 'not up to the mark,' providing a more specific description of the defect (e.g., loose stitching or fabric flaws) would have strengthened the response. The request for a replacement is clear, and the context of the wedding provides a logical justification for the urgency.

Coherence and Cohesion — Band 6.0

The letter is logically organized with a clear progression of ideas. Each paragraph focuses on a specific aspect of the task. You use some cohesive devices such as 'Nonetheless' and 'Unfortunately,' which help guide the reader. However, the transition between the complaint and the request for a replacement could be smoother. The paragraphing is appropriate, though the letter would benefit from a more distinct separation between the body paragraphs to enhance the overall flow and readability.

Lexical Resource — Band 5.5

The vocabulary is generally adequate for the task, allowing for clear communication. You use some specific terms like 'reputable,' 'transaction,' and 'replacement.' However, there are some minor collocation issues, such as 'regretting on my decision' (should be 'regretting my decision') and 'I hope you are understanding my situation' (should be 'I hope you understand'). Expanding your range to include more precise descriptive adjectives would help elevate the score.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 5.5

You demonstrate a mix of simple and complex sentence structures. There are several grammatical errors that occur throughout the text, such as 'I have bought a kurta' (past simple 'I bought' is more appropriate for a completed action at a specific time) and 'in couple of days' (missing the article 'a'). While these errors do not impede communication, they indicate a need for more consistent control over verb tenses and article usage. Increasing the variety of complex sentence structures would also improve your range.

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

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