Band 6.0 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 6.0 · Cambridge IELTS 17 · 2026-10-07

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 6.0)

Dear Sir/Madam,

I am writing this letter to express my dissatisfaction that faced by me while purchasing onlone clothes from your firm.

Last sunday, I ordered a black lether jacket from your officals website. It looks very beautiful like its design was unique by having a attractive color. So, I ordered immidiately and its cost was $295. I wanted this for daily wear.

However, after couple of days, I received this percel and I was astongnish by looking that jacket. It was damaged like its torn from sleevs and its color was totally distinct from the picture. Also, it was in small size since I ordered xx size but it was in medium size.

I would like to replace it immidiately becuase i ordered it for daily wearing as weather has changed, but it is not suitable for wearing due to its condition. I request you to exchange it or if it is not possible please retuen my fund.

I am waiting for your prompt and I hope you will take it seriously and try to solve this issue.

Yours faithfully,

Gurpreet kaur

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response: Band 7.0

The letter clearly addresses all three requirements: you identify the purchase as a black leather jacket ordered from the company website for $295, describe the damage, colour mismatch and incorrect size, and explain that you need a replacement because you want it for daily wear as the weather has changed. Your request for an exchange or refund also gives the company a clear action to take. These details make the purpose clear throughout. To strengthen the response further, explain the urgency more specifically—for example, when you need the jacket or why the changed weather makes a prompt replacement essential. A few details, such as the jacket’s attractive design, are less useful than information that would help the company locate the order, such as an order number or purchase date.

Coherence and Cohesion: Band 6.5

The letter has a clear overall progression: purchase details come first, the problems are described in the next paragraph, and the final paragraphs explain the requested remedy and close the letter. Paragraphing helps the reader follow the complaint, and linking words such as “However,” “Also” and “because” make relationships between ideas clear. This is a coherent arrangement, though some connections are a little mechanical, and the final paragraph repeats the request for a prompt response without adding much. The reference in “I was astonished by looking that jacket” is also unclear. For a more flexible and polished flow, connect the defects directly to the requested exchange and use a concise closing that states the action and response you expect.

Lexical Resource: Band 5.0

You use enough vocabulary to communicate the purchase and complaint, including “dissatisfaction,” “damaged,” “distinct” and “exchange.” However, the range is limited and several noticeable spelling and word-choice errors make parts of the letter less natural, such as “onlone,” “lether,” “percel,” “astongnish” and “retuen my fund.” Some phrases are also awkward or imprecise: “daily wearing” and “its color was totally distinct from the picture” do not express the ideas idiomatically. Choose standard complaint vocabulary and check spelling carefully. Phrases such as “the colour did not match the photograph” and “request a replacement” would communicate the same points more clearly and professionally.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy: Band 5.5

The response includes both simple sentences and attempts at more complex structures, for example, “I would like to replace it immediately because…” and “if it is not possible please return my fund.” The main message remains understandable, but grammatical control is uneven. Errors include the construction “dissatisfaction that faced by me,” the missing article in “after couple of days,” and the unclear clause “It was damaged like its torn from sleeves.” Capitalisation and punctuation are also inconsistent, as in “i” and the missing comma before “please” in the conditional request. Use direct sentence patterns such as “I am dissatisfied with my purchase” and “The jacket was torn at the sleeves,” then check articles, verb forms and punctuation.

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

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