Band 6.5 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 6.5 · Cambridge IELTS 17 · 2026-10-09

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 hope you are doing well. I am writing this letter to you regarding a purchase i recently made from your website which is a formal dress. I was really happy after ordering the dress but got very disappointed upon the arrival of dress as the size of the dress is different than what i ordered.

I placed an order for a medium-sized dress but recieved a large one in the package. I ordered this dress for my convocation ceremony which is the most important day of my life. I think this is the perfect dress for my special occasion that is why is resquest an urgent replacement of this on an urgent basis as my graduation day is next Friday.

I trust you for processing my request as fast as possible so my special day will not be ruined. Please let me know if you have any questions.

Kind regards

Komal

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response: Band 7.5

The letter clearly covers all three requested points: it identifies the purchase as a formal dress, explains that a medium was ordered but a large arrived, and gives a reason for urgency by mentioning the convocation next Friday. The purpose and request for a replacement are clear throughout, and the personal importance of the occasion supports the request. To make the response more fully developed, include practical purchase details such as the order date or reference number, and specify what action you expect the company to take, for example, sending the correct size by a particular date. The explanation is relevant and persuasive, though some details remain general.

Coherence and Cohesion: Band 6.5

The message follows a sensible sequence: opening and purpose, purchase problem, urgency, then a closing request. This makes it easy to understand, and phrases such as “I placed an order” and “I ordered this dress” help connect the details. However, the ideas are presented in one continuous block rather than clearly separated paragraphs, so the shift from describing the error to explaining the urgency is less distinct. Some linking is also repetitive, particularly the repeated reference to the special occasion and the duplicated urgency in “urgent replacement” and “on an urgent basis.” Use short paragraphs and more varied, precise transitions to make the progression smoother.

Lexical Resource: Band 6.0

The vocabulary is adequate for the purpose and includes relevant terms such as “formal dress,” “medium-sized,” “replacement,” and “convocation ceremony.” The reader can understand the complaint and its urgency. However, several spelling and word-choice errors reduce precision, including “recieved,” “resquest,” and “upon the arrival of dress.” The phrase “I trust you for processing my request” is also not a natural collocation in this context. Aim for more accurate customer-service language, such as “I would appreciate prompt processing” or “please arrange an expedited replacement.” Checking spelling and choosing natural collocations would make the letter more polished and professional.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy: Band 6.0

The letter uses a mix of simple and more complex sentence forms, including a relative clause in “a purchase … which is a formal dress” and a reason clause explaining why the replacement is needed. Most meaning remains clear, but some grammatical and punctuation errors are present. For example, “the size of the dress is different than what I ordered” would be clearer as “the size differs from the one I ordered,” and “that is why is resquest” lacks a grammatical subject after “why.” Capitalise “I” consistently, and use a comma after the greeting and closing. Greater control of clause structure and sentence boundaries would improve 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.