Band 6.5 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 6.5 · Cambridge IELTS 17 · 2026-09-07

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,

I am writing to express my dissatisfaction regarding my recent online purchase on 21 August and I received my parcel on 2nd September.

Unfortunately, the item did not meet my expectations. I bought 4 pairs of scrubs from Myntra. I choose different color and style for my outfit. To be more specific, my size is Medium, despite that I got Small size for all and even the color are not same which I selected. Moreover, two scrubs are defected. I cannot go with them for my new job.

Moving further, I am requesting for urgent replacement. So, that I can be fully dressed for my first day. I did not opened all the packing yet, as I can see the color and sizes are wrong. I cannot go for another purchase as it again going to take another days. I would appreciate it if you could solve my problem at your early convenience.

I look forward to your prompt response.

Yours sincerely,

Simran

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 7.0

You have successfully addressed all three bullet points in the prompt. You provided details of the purchase (date and item type), described the specific problems (incorrect size, wrong color, and defects), and explained the urgency of the replacement due to a new job. The tone is appropriate for a formal letter of complaint. To improve, you could provide more specific details, such as an order number, to make the request more realistic and professional. The ideas are clearly presented and the purpose of the letter is immediately apparent to the reader.

Coherence and Cohesion — Band 6.5

The letter is logically organized into clear paragraphs, each serving a distinct purpose. You use some cohesive devices like 'Moreover' and 'Moving further' to transition between ideas. However, some transitions feel slightly mechanical or unnatural, such as 'Moving further' to start a paragraph. Additionally, the referencing is occasionally slightly unclear, such as the sentence 'I cannot go with them for my new job,' where 'go with' is an awkward choice. Improving the variety of linking words and ensuring smoother flow between sentences would help elevate the coherence of your writing.

Lexical Resource — Band 6.0

You have an adequate range of vocabulary to convey your message clearly. You use relevant terms like 'dissatisfaction', 'parcel', and 'replacement'. However, there are some inaccuracies in word choice and collocation. For example, 'defected' should be 'defective', and 'go with them' is not standard English for wearing clothing. You also use 'another days' which is grammatically incorrect. To reach a higher band, focus on using more precise collocations related to retail and customer service, and ensure that word forms (e.g., adjective vs. verb) are used correctly.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 6.0

You demonstrate a mix of simple and complex sentence structures. While the meaning is generally clear, there are several grammatical errors that persist throughout the text. Examples include 'I choose different color' (tense error: should be 'chose'), 'the color are not same' (subject-verb agreement: should be 'colors are not the same'), and 'I did not opened' (tense error: should be 'did not open'). These errors do not impede communication, but they occur frequently enough to prevent a higher score. Focusing on subject-verb agreement and consistent verb tense usage will significantly improve your accuracy.

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.