Band 6.5 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 6.5 · Cambridge IELTS 17 · 2026-08-31

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/Madam

I am writing regarding a recent online purchase made from your company and that left me dissatisfied with shopping experience.

I bought a three piece Italian suit which was displayed as hot selling article and was priced at fresh rate.However, the suit is oddly different from as endorsed in your web site.The fabric used in it is far ordinary than what I was expecting because it does not have that softness which Italian suits generally possess.

Moreover, it also does not have a sheep lining inside which is basic to keep warmth in cold conditions. I think it would not be feasible for me to wear this suit in outdoor settings which is really disappointing for me.

I would request an apt replacement urgently because ,I have to attend few meetings this week and Italian suit is preferred dress code.If replacement is not possible,I would want full refund to my used mode of payment within 24 hours.

I am hopeful you would consider this matter at utmost priority and resolve the matter as soon as possible

Yours faithfully

Gaurav Sharma

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 7.0

You have addressed all three bullet points of the task: 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 slightly limited; for instance, the description of the suit's quality could be more specific to help the reader understand the exact nature of the defect. Additionally, the demand for a refund within 24 hours is a bit abrupt. Overall, the response is clear and fulfills the requirements of the task effectively.

Coherence and Cohesion — Band 6.5

The letter is logically organized with a clear introduction, body paragraphs, and a conclusion. Paragraphing is used appropriately to separate the different points. You use some cohesive devices like 'Moreover' and 'However' to link ideas. However, the flow is occasionally hindered by minor punctuation errors, such as missing spaces after commas (e.g., 'urgently because ,I have'). Improving the use of transition words and ensuring consistent spacing would enhance the overall readability and cohesion of the text.

Lexical Resource — Band 6.0

You have an adequate range of vocabulary for the task, using terms like 'dissatisfied', 'endorsed', and 'feasible'. There are some instances of awkward phrasing or non-standard collocations, such as 'hot selling article', 'priced at fresh rate', and 'far ordinary'. These do not impede communication, but they indicate a need for more precise word choices. To reach a higher band, focus on using more natural collocations and idiomatic expressions appropriate for formal business correspondence.

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 slips, such as missing articles ('the suit is oddly different from as endorsed in your web site' should be 'the one endorsed on your website') and minor punctuation errors. Some sentences are slightly clunky, such as 'I am writing regarding a recent online purchase made from your company and that left me dissatisfied'. Focusing on subject-verb agreement and article usage will help improve your accuracy.

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

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