Band 6.5 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 6.5 · Cambridge IELTS 17 · 2026-09-14

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 to request you for the solution of an issue of the product that I just bought from your online site, which lead to me dissatisfaction.

I bought a t shirt last monday which was delivered yesterday. My order number is #[redacted phone]. I was very happy by the time I ordered it because it is the t shirt that I like too much, but when I opened the packaging and tried it on then my whole happiness came to ground when I find a cut on t shirt just below the shoulder. I ordered it to wear it on an event of Diwali, which is going to be on the next tuesday.

In addition, I would like to request you to provide me a replacement of the t shirt as soon as possible because I have to wear it on an event. I would be thankful to you for your this assistance.

I am looking forward to receiving a positive respone. Thank you so much.

Yours faithfully,

Sukhbir.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 7.0

The student successfully covers all three bullet points required in the task instructions. Details of the purchase are provided, including the date bought, delivery date, and order number (#2345567). The problem is clearly described as finding a cut on the t-shirt just below the shoulder. Furthermore, the reason for the urgent replacement is explained by mentioning the upcoming Diwali event next Tuesday. The tone is appropriate for a formal complaint letter. The requirements of the prompt are fully satisfied with relevant and appropriately extended ideas, resulting in a solid band score for this criterion.

Coherence and Cohesion — Band 6.5

The letter maintains a clear logical organisation from the opening statement of purpose through to the closing sign-off. Paragraphing is used sufficiently to separate the main points, such as the purchase and problem details in the first paragraph, and the urgent request in the second. Cohesive devices are used adequately, for instance 'In addition', though referencing and transitions can occasionally feel a bit mechanical ('My order number is... I was very happy... but when I opened...'). Overall, the letter flows well and the progression of ideas is easy to follow, making this a clear band 6.5 performance that approaches band 7.

Lexical Resource — Band 6.0

The student demonstrates an adequate range of vocabulary for the task, attempting some less common phrases like 'online site', 'packaging', and 'replacement'. However, there are notable word choice and collocation inaccuracies, such as 'request you for the solution of an issue', 'lead to me dissatisfaction' (instead of 'my dissatisfaction'), and 'came to ground'. There are also spelling errors like 'respone' instead of 'response'. While these errors do not impede communication, they restrict the lexical score to a band 6, as the vocabulary lacks the precision and flexibility required for higher bands.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 6.0

The response features a mix of simple and complex sentence forms, demonstrating a reasonable attempt at complex structures (e.g., relative clauses with 'which'). However, there are several grammatical errors and awkward constructions throughout the text, including 'the t shirt that I like too much', 'when I find a cut' (tense shift), and 'on an event' (inappropriate preposition; 'for an event' would be better). Punctuation is generally acceptable, but the frequency of minor structural and grammatical errors places this writing firmly in the band 6 category.

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.