Band 6.5 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 6.5 · Cambridge IELTS 17 · 2026-09-08

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 or Madam,

I am writing this letter to you regarding my dissatisfaction with your company after buying clothes online.

A few days ago, I ordered clothes from your online site named SHENIN. I ordered those clothes for a very important occasion. I ordered two cotton dresses because I want to wear them on my birthday. I planned to visit Tulip Farm with my friends on my special day.

When I received the ordered that time, I felt very happy, but after opening the package, I felt dissatisfied with the colour and fabric of the dresses. I ordered a light colour, but you sent me bright colours, which are not suitable for visiting Tulip Farm.

It is my humble request that you replace this parcel at the earliest you can, because my birthday is next week. So, I do not want to spoil my whole day because of my dresses.

I would appreciate your efforts if you could solve my problem at the earliest.

Yours faithfully,

Harman

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 7.0

The letter covers all three bullet points required by the prompt: details of the purchase, the specific problem with the items, and the urgency of the replacement. The tone is appropriate for a formal complaint letter. The ideas are relevant and clearly presented, though the development of the 'urgency' point could be slightly more sophisticated. For instance, explaining the specific nature of the event or the potential for a refund if the replacement is not possible would add depth. Overall, the response successfully addresses the task requirements in a clear and logical manner.

Coherence and Cohesion — Band 6.5

The letter is logically organized, with a clear introduction, body paragraphs addressing the specific requirements, and a polite closing. Each paragraph focuses on a distinct aspect of the complaint. Cohesive devices are used, such as 'When I received', 'because', and 'so', which help the flow of ideas. However, the transitions between sentences are sometimes a bit mechanical. To reach a higher band, you could use a wider variety of linking words and ensure that the progression between sentences feels more natural and less repetitive.

Lexical Resource — Band 6.0

The vocabulary is adequate for the task, allowing you to communicate your dissatisfaction clearly. You use functional phrases like 'dissatisfaction with your company' and 'humble request'. However, the range is somewhat limited, and there is some repetition of simple words like 'ordered' and 'clothes'. To improve, try to incorporate more precise synonyms and collocations related to retail and customer service, such as 'garments', 'discrepancy', or 'expedite'. The current vocabulary is sufficient to convey your meaning without any confusion.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 6.0

The letter demonstrates a mix of simple and complex sentence structures. While most sentences are clear, there are some minor grammatical inaccuracies, such as 'received the ordered that time' (should be 'received the order') and 'at the earliest you can' (should be 'as soon as possible'). Punctuation is generally correct, and these errors do not impede communication. To achieve a higher score, aim for more complex sentence structures and ensure greater precision in your verb tenses and prepositional usage.

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

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