Band 5.0 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 5.0 · Cambridge IELTS 17 · 2026-09-04

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 sir,

I hope you are Weill . I am karanveer singh . I am writing this letter in accordance to tell you that I brought shirt online from your company . I am not satisfied with purchase.

I oder this shirt on Monday 18 July 2026 . the oder number is [redacted phone] . The shirt fibre and quality is not good . moreover size of shirt is not comfortable.

as I request you that I need replacement urgently because , I oder this shirt for my birthday party . I have to wear this shirt so I request u to replacement urgently .

I look forward to receive your response

yours faithfully

karanveer

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 an urgent replacement. However, the response is significantly under the 150-word minimum, which limits the development of ideas. The explanation for the urgency is brief, and the overall tone is somewhat informal for a formal complaint letter. To improve, you should expand on the specific nature of the quality issues and provide more context to ensure the letter meets the required length and professional standard.

Coherence and Cohesion — Band 5.5

The letter is organised into short paragraphs, which helps the reader follow the structure. However, the use of cohesive devices is very limited and sometimes mechanical. For example, the transition 'moreover' is used, but the connection between sentences is often abrupt. The lack of varied linking words makes the flow feel disjointed. To improve, use a wider range of cohesive devices such as 'consequently', 'furthermore', or 'in addition to this' to connect your ideas more smoothly and professionally.

Lexical Resource — Band 5.0

The vocabulary is basic and repetitive. You use 'shirt' and 'oder' (order) multiple times. There are also spelling errors such as 'Weill' (well) and 'oder' (order). The range of vocabulary is insufficient to express the dissatisfaction with the product in a sophisticated way. To reach a higher band, try to use more precise adjectives to describe the quality of the item, such as 'substandard', 'defective', or 'unsatisfactory', and ensure you check your spelling carefully before submitting.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 5.0

There are frequent grammatical errors throughout the text, including subject-verb agreement issues ('I oder this shirt') and incorrect preposition usage ('in accordance to tell you'). The sentence structures are simple, and there is a lack of complex sentence forms. Punctuation is also inconsistent, particularly with spacing around commas and periods. To improve, focus on mastering basic sentence construction and proofreading for common errors like verb tense consistency and article usage.

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

Browse more IELTS Writing model answers or get your own writing scored by the same AI examiner.