Band 5.0 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 5.0 · 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 5.0)

Dear Madam ,

My purpose to write this letter to bring your attention on my defaulted purchase .

My name is Inder Kaur . I am a resident of officer colony Jalandhar . Last week I placed an order of pent suit with dupatta from amazon site In blue color. My order no is suit 2307 and address is #706 . I was so excited when i recieved my order but when i open it my happiness vanished because the color of the suit was not that which i placed order it is in red color .Moreover, the size is different and the stuff was not that which is described in the description box ,

I ordered that suit for a special occasion . my brother's graduation party is on coming friday and I have to wear this s grad

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 5.0

The letter addresses all three bullet points: purchase details, the problem, and the need for a replacement. However, the response is incomplete, ending abruptly mid-sentence ('I have to wear this s grad'). Furthermore, the word count is below the 150-word minimum, which significantly impacts the development of the ideas. While the purpose of the letter is clear, the lack of a proper closing and the unfinished nature of the final paragraph prevent the response from fully developing the required points. To improve, ensure all parts of the prompt are fully expanded and the letter is brought to a logical conclusion.

Coherence and Cohesion — Band 5.0

The letter lacks clear paragraphing, which makes the structure feel disjointed. While there is a basic attempt to sequence ideas, the transition between the description of the problem and the urgency of the request is abrupt. Cohesive devices are minimal, and the flow is interrupted by the incomplete final sentence. To achieve a higher band, you should use clear paragraph breaks for each section of the letter (introduction, details, problem, request, and closing) and use linking words such as 'consequently', 'furthermore', or 'therefore' to connect your ideas more smoothly.

Lexical Resource — Band 5.5

The vocabulary is generally adequate for the task but lacks variety and precision. Phrases like 'defaulted purchase' and 'stuff was not that which is described' are somewhat unnatural or imprecise. There are also minor errors in word choice, such as 'pent suit' (likely 'pant suit') and 'description box'. To improve, try to use more formal and specific vocabulary related to customer service, such as 'defective item', 'discrepancy', or 'in accordance with'. Expanding your range of descriptive adjectives would also help convey your dissatisfaction more effectively.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 5.0

There are frequent grammatical errors throughout the text, including issues with article usage ('on coming friday'), verb tense consistency, and sentence structure. For example, 'My purpose to write this letter' should be 'My purpose in writing this letter'. Punctuation is also inconsistent, with spaces before commas and periods. While the meaning is generally understandable, the high frequency of errors in basic sentence construction limits the score. Focusing on subject-verb agreement and correct sentence formation will significantly improve your accuracy.

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

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