Band 6.0 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 6.0 · Cambridge IELTS 17 · 2026-09-01

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 6.0)

Dear Sir,

Hope you are doing splendidly well. I am writing this letter to bring your attention to my concern regarding a clothing purchase that i made online last week. I ordered a denim jacket from your store which i received last night. It was blue in color and in size extra large. As soon as i opened my parcel, i came across with the damage of the product. Actually, the jacket is torn off from the back little bit. I genuinely need that jacket urgently because i wanted to wear it on my birthday. I organized a party on this speacial event where i was about to wear this.

It would be grateful if i can return the item and get the new one exactly similar at your earliest convenience. Thank you for your understanding. I am looking forward to hearing from your side.

Best regards,

Manpreet kour

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 5.5

The letter addresses all three bullet points: purchase details, the problem, and the need for an urgent replacement. However, the response falls slightly short of the 150-word minimum requirement, which impacts the overall task completion. While the ideas are relevant, the development is somewhat brief. To reach a higher band, you should expand on the details of the purchase (e.g., order number or date) and provide a more formal tone throughout. The tone is generally appropriate for a formal complaint, but the brevity prevents a fully developed response.

Coherence and Cohesion — Band 6.0

The letter is organized into logical paragraphs, which helps the reader follow the narrative. The progression of ideas—from the purchase to the problem and finally the request—is clear. However, the use of cohesive devices is somewhat basic. Phrases like 'As soon as' and 'Actually' are used, but the transitions between sentences could be more sophisticated to improve the flow. Paragraphing is present, but the structure is quite simple. Increasing the variety of linking words would enhance the cohesion of the text.

Lexical Resource — Band 6.0

The vocabulary is adequate for the task, allowing the message to be communicated clearly. You use some specific terms like 'denim jacket' and 'parcel'. However, there are some awkward collocations and word choices, such as 'came across with the damage' (should be 'noticed the damage') and 'torn off from the back little bit' (should be 'slightly torn at the back'). The range is limited, and there is a lack of more sophisticated or precise vocabulary that would demonstrate a higher level of lexical control.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 5.5

The response contains a mix of simple and complex sentence structures. There are several grammatical errors, such as the failure to capitalize the pronoun 'I' consistently, and minor phrasing issues like 'It would be grateful if i can' (should be 'I would be grateful if I could'). Punctuation is generally functional, but the consistency of capitalization needs improvement. While the errors do not prevent the reader from understanding the message, they occur frequently enough to limit the score. Focusing on subject-verb agreement and consistent capitalization will improve your accuracy.

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

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