Band 6.0 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 6.0 · Cambridge IELTS 17 · 2026-09-05

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,

Hi, I hope you are doing well. I am writing this letter to express my reviews about clothes which I bought from your brand. I purchased some items such as, tops, jeans as well as some formal trousers. So when I opened the package I saw the quality of product is inferior. Beside this, I saw the sizes has more differences. As this, I am dissatisfied with my purchasing clothes from your company.

As I sent 200$ to bought it and they deducted amount from my credit card as I want to need my refund back because I need this clothes urgently because of my fair well party has on tomorrow so that's why I ordered this. So, now I want to need my full payment back on my credit card as I also add my credit cards details where you can easily putt my money back on my account and delivery person can come anytime and pick up the parcel from my home.

I want to need urgent replacement because I want to order other clothes as use this money for purchasing. So, could you please tell me the time period of refund policy.

I hope you understand my situation, and I look forward to hearing from you.

Best Regards

Apoorva

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 6.0

You have addressed all three bullet points: providing purchase details, describing the quality issues, and explaining the urgency for a replacement. However, the response is somewhat contradictory; you ask for a refund in the second paragraph but then request an urgent replacement in the third. This inconsistency makes your purpose unclear. To improve, ensure your request is consistent throughout the letter. The tone is generally appropriate for a formal complaint, though it occasionally slips into informal phrasing like 'Hi' instead of a more standard opening for a formal letter.

Coherence and Cohesion — Band 6.0

The letter is organised into paragraphs, which helps the reader follow the structure. However, the use of cohesive devices is often repetitive or mechanical. For example, the frequent use of 'So' to start sentences makes the flow feel disjointed. Additionally, some transitions are awkward, such as 'As this, I am dissatisfied'. To reach a higher band, try using a wider variety of linking words like 'consequently', 'furthermore', or 'due to these issues' to connect your ideas more fluidly and logically.

Lexical Resource — Band 5.5

Your vocabulary is generally adequate for the task, but it lacks precision and contains several collocation errors. Phrases like 'express my reviews' (should be 'express my dissatisfaction') and 'putt my money back' (should be 'refund' or 'credit') hinder the professional tone. You also use 'need' repeatedly, which limits your range. To improve, focus on using more precise business terminology and avoid repeating the same verbs. Expanding your vocabulary to include more specific terms related to retail and customer service would significantly enhance your score.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 5.5

There are frequent grammatical errors throughout the text, particularly with verb tenses and sentence construction. Examples include 'I saw the sizes has more differences' (should be 'have') and 'I want to need my refund' (a redundant construction). There are also issues with article usage and prepositions, such as 'purchasing clothes' instead of 'the clothes I purchased'. While the meaning is generally clear, these persistent errors in basic grammar and sentence structure prevent the response from reaching a higher band. Focus on subject-verb agreement and avoiding redundant phrasing.

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

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