Band 5.5 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 5.5 · 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 5.5)

Dear Sir/ Madam

I am writing this to inform you about my recent purchase for clothes online through you website. I had purchase a pair of sweat shirt and paints, which was ordered fifteen days ago and delivery period for the order was 3 days but for some reason i received my order after fifteen days that and size for my cloths was medium but when i opened my parcel i found out that its large in the size which is not my size, so with late delivery i also got wrong order. I kindly request replace my order immediately because i have a trip with my friend. I have flight to catch in 3 days so it would be really appreciate if it is possible that you will be able to replace the order within two days.

I would really appreciate.

Thank you so much for understanding

Kind regards

Divya Varde

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 6.0

You have addressed all three bullet points required by the prompt: providing purchase details, describing the problem, and explaining the urgency of the replacement. The tone is appropriate for a formal complaint letter. However, the development of ideas is somewhat limited. For instance, while you mention the delay and the incorrect size, the explanation could be more precise regarding the specific items ordered. The request for a replacement is clear, but the letter lacks a formal structure, such as a clear opening and closing paragraph, which affects the overall impact of the communication. To improve, ensure each bullet point is developed into a distinct, well-structured paragraph.

Coherence and Cohesion — Band 5.5

The letter is generally easy to follow, but the lack of paragraphing makes the text feel like a single block of information. Cohesive devices are used, such as 'but' and 'so', but they are somewhat repetitive and basic. The progression of ideas is logical, moving from the purchase details to the problem and finally the request for action. To reach a higher band, you should use a wider variety of linking words (e.g., 'consequently', 'furthermore', 'due to the fact that') and organize the letter into clear paragraphs: one for the purchase, one for the issue, and one for the resolution.

Lexical Resource — Band 5.5

Your vocabulary is adequate for the task, allowing you to convey the necessary information clearly. You use some topic-specific terms like 'purchase', 'parcel', and 'replacement'. However, there are several errors in word choice and form, such as 'paints' instead of 'pants' or 'trousers', and 'its large in the size' which is slightly unnatural. There is also a lack of variety in your word choices. To improve, try to incorporate more precise vocabulary related to retail and customer service, and pay closer attention to word forms and common collocations.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 5.5

You demonstrate a mix of simple and some complex sentence structures. However, there are frequent grammatical errors throughout the text, such as 'I had purchase' (should be 'purchased'), 'through you website' (should be 'your'), and 'I have flight to catch' (should be 'a flight'). Punctuation is also inconsistent, particularly with the use of commas and the lack of full stops to separate distinct ideas. While these errors do not completely impede communication, they are frequent enough to distract the reader. Focusing on subject-verb agreement and article usage will significantly improve your accuracy.

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

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