Band 4.0 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 4.0 · Cambridge IELTS 17 · 2026-08-29

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 4.0)

Dear Sir,

I hope you are doing well.I am writing to ask if it is possible to reduce my working hours .

The reason is that I would like to study part time to improve my skills.I have taken admission to a course of Business Management . I believe this course will help me in my job. I contribute more in the company.

Currently,I work from 9 a.m to 6 p.m.I want to change my working hours 9 a.m to 3 p.m in my week days. Because of this,

I can attend my classes in the evening. I am ready yo get an opportunity in the extra hours on same days. Its better for me.

I am sure that my studies will benefit your company.I will learn new management and communication skills. I can use it to improve my team work. I can make my future bright.

I would be grateful if you accept my request.

Yours sincerely,

x,y,z.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 1.0

The response fails to address the task requirements entirely. The prompt explicitly asks for a letter regarding a complaint about an online clothing purchase, including details of the purchase, the problem, and the need for a replacement. Instead, the student has written a letter to an employer requesting a reduction in working hours to pursue part-time studies. Because the content is completely off-topic and does not address any of the bullet points provided in the instructions, it cannot be assessed as a successful response to the specific task set.

Coherence and Cohesion — Band 5.0

The letter is structured with an opening, body paragraphs, and a closing, which provides a basic framework. However, the logical progression is hampered by the fact that the content is irrelevant to the prompt. Cohesive devices are used in a mechanical way, such as 'The reason is that' and 'Because of this', but they do not serve to develop a coherent argument related to the task. Paragraphing is present but inconsistent in its formatting, which detracts from the overall professional appearance of the letter.

Lexical Resource — Band 5.0

The vocabulary is basic and repetitive, relying on simple structures to convey meaning. Phrases like 'improve my skills', 'help me in my job', and 'make my future bright' are functional but lack the range and precision expected for higher bands. There are some awkward collocations, such as 'taken admission to a course', which should be 'enrolled in a course'. While the vocabulary is sufficient to communicate the student's intent regarding their work schedule, it does not demonstrate the flexibility or range required for a higher score.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 5.0

The response contains a mix of simple and some attempted complex sentences. There are several grammatical errors, including missing spaces after punctuation (e.g., 'well.I', 'p.m.I'), incorrect verb usage ('I contribute more' instead of 'I could contribute more'), and minor spelling errors like 'yo' instead of 'to'. Punctuation is inconsistent, particularly regarding spacing after periods. While the meaning is generally clear, the frequency of these errors and the lack of control over complex structures limit the score.

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

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