Band 6.5 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 6.5 · Cambridge IELTS 17 · 2026-08-28

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 or Madam,

I am writing to express my dissatisfaction with a recent order I placed on your website on August 28th (order no:[redacted phone]) which arrived at my home yesterday morning.

I have purchased a bluetooth speaker with a usb charger but when I opened the packet I found three significant problem. Firstly, I ordered for red colour which was showing available but I got black one. Secondly, It was mentioned speaker comes with usb charger but there was no charger in the package. Thirdly, I order for type C-Charger which was showing in the website picture but I got USB charger which is totally useless.

I need to get an urgent replacement because I have a birthday party coming this weekend and I need this speaker to be get replaced. It's only 4 days left, request to replace the same as per the requirement on a priority basis.

Waiting for a prompt response and quick resolution.

Yours faithfully,

Manu

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 7.0

The letter successfully addresses all three bullet points of the prompt. You provided the order details, clearly described the multiple issues with the product (color, missing charger, and incorrect charger type), and explained the urgency regarding the upcoming birthday party. The tone is appropriate for a formal complaint letter. The purpose of the letter is clear from the beginning, and the request for a replacement is well-justified. To reach a higher band, ensure that the product description is accurate; you mentioned purchasing a 'bluetooth speaker' but then complained about a 'type C-Charger' and 'USB charger', which created slight confusion regarding the nature of the item purchased.

Coherence and Cohesion — Band 7.0

The letter is logically organized with a clear introduction, body paragraphs, and a closing. Each paragraph focuses on a specific aspect of the task. You used some cohesive devices such as 'Firstly', 'Secondly', and 'Thirdly' to sequence your points, which helps the reader follow the argument. However, the transition between the description of the problem and the request for a replacement could be smoother. The paragraphing is appropriate for a formal letter, and the overall progression of ideas is easy to follow throughout the response.

Lexical Resource — Band 6.0

The vocabulary is generally adequate for the task, allowing you to communicate the issues clearly. You used some specific terms like 'dissatisfaction', 'replacement', and 'priority basis'. However, there are some minor inaccuracies and awkward phrasing, such as 'I ordered for red colour' (should be 'I ordered the red version') and 'I need this speaker to be get replaced' (grammatically redundant). Expanding your range of collocations and avoiding repetitive structures would help elevate the lexical score. The vocabulary is sufficient to convey your meaning without difficulty.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 6.0

You demonstrate a mix of simple and complex sentence structures. While the meaning is always clear, there are several grammatical errors, such as 'I found three significant problem' (should be plural 'problems'), 'I order for type C-Charger' (tense inconsistency), and 'It's only 4 days left' (should be 'There are only 4 days left'). These errors are frequent but do not impede communication. To improve, focus on subject-verb agreement and consistent tense usage. The punctuation is generally correct, and the formal letter format is followed accurately.

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

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