Band 5.5 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer
Overall Band Score: 5.5 · Cambridge IELTS 17 · 2026-10-16
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 5.5)
Dear Sir/Madam,
I am writing to express my dissatisfaction about your product. Last week I purchased a dress on your website and it delivery on time. But, when I was open the package I noticed that the image color and real product was too different. I ordered dark red color but they delivered for me a light one. I want to request an urgent repalcement.
On 10 October, I ordered a party bMy birthday party will be come within to days and I am so distress about that. I do not have enough time to go another shopping or looking websites because I am in a very busy schedule in these days.
AI examiner evaluation
| Criterion | Band |
|---|---|
| Task Achievement / Task Response | 5.0 |
| Coherence and Cohesion | 5.5 |
| Lexical Resource | 5.5 |
| Grammatical Range and Accuracy | 5.0 |
| Overall | 5.5 |
Task Achievement / Task Response: Band 5.0
You identify the purchase as a dress ordered online, explain that the delivered item is light red rather than dark red, and request an urgent replacement. You also give a reason for urgency by mentioning your birthday party. However, the response addresses the task only partially: the purchase details are incomplete, and the urgency is not clearly explained because “within to days” is unclear. The letter also ends without a clear closing or a specific request about how the company should resolve the problem. The response is 112 words, below the required 150, so the complaint and its supporting details remain under-developed. Add the order date and any useful order information, clarify the deadline, and state what action you expect.
Coherence and Cohesion: Band 5.5
The letter follows a broadly sensible order: you introduce your complaint, describe the colour problem, and then explain why you need a replacement quickly. The opening “I am writing to express my dissatisfaction” helps establish the purpose. However, the second paragraph is difficult to follow because “On 10 October, I ordered a party bMy birthday party…” appears to combine or interrupt two sentences. The link between the order date and the birthday deadline is therefore unclear. “But” also begins a sentence abruptly after the delivery detail. Use separate, complete paragraphs and connect the ideas more smoothly—for example, give the order details first, then describe the defect, and finish with the deadline and requested action.
Lexical Resource: Band 5.5
You use relevant vocabulary for a complaint, including “dissatisfaction,” “purchased,” “delivered,” and “urgent replacement,” so the reader can understand the main issue. However, the range is limited, and several word choices or spellings are inaccurate or unnatural, such as “repalcement,” “distress about that,” and “looking websites.” “Product” is also less precise than “dress” in this context. These errors do not prevent the reader from identifying the problem, but they make the letter less natural and professional. Build a small set of accurate complaint phrases and check spelling; for example, describe the item as “a different shade from the one shown online” and say that you are “concerned” about the deadline.
Grammatical Range and Accuracy: Band 5.0
You attempt to communicate several connected ideas, but the range of sentence structures is limited and errors occur frequently. Examples include “it delivery on time” instead of a correctly formed past-tense clause, “when I was open the package,” and “I ordered dark red color but they delivered for me a light one.” The sentence about the birthday party, “will be come within to days,” is also difficult to interpret because the verb form and time expression are not controlled. These problems sometimes make the reader pause, although the main complaint remains understandable. Practise accurate past-tense reporting and simple clauses before adding longer sentences: “The dress arrived on time, but its colour was much lighter than the dark red shown online.”
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