Band 5.5 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 5.5 · Cambridge IELTS 17 · 2026-10-17

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 Maam,

My name is Maria Mata im regular customer of your's today im writing this email to have some inquiry about my last purchased dress . it is a red dress size medium and its was on sale when i bought it .

Unfortunately when i tried the dress it doesnt fit me well ,it was too small for me for a medium, upon checking the tag i saw a tampered stamp and it says size small.I was confused and id like to send it back to the store and hoping for a replacement or a refund myself but i cant make it today i have an scheduled doctors appointment today.I will just ship it within today and hoping to get a repalcement or refund since i will use it next week for my birthday celebration.

Finally this is my contact number [redacted phone] you can call me for further information required.

Respectfully,

Maria Mata

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response: Band 6.0

You address all three requested points: you identify the purchase as a red, medium-sized dress bought on sale, explain that the label appears to show small, and state that you need it for your birthday celebration next week. The request for a replacement or refund is also clear. However, some details are less fully developed: the purchase date or order reference is missing, and the urgency could be explained more directly by asking for a replacement to arrive before the celebration. The statement that you cannot return it today because of a doctor’s appointment is relevant, but the next step and timing are not entirely clear. A more formal opening and a specific requested action would make the purpose more complete and effective.

Coherence and Cohesion: Band 6.0

The information follows a generally sensible order: purchase details, the sizing problem, the proposed return, and your contact information. This makes the letter understandable overall. However, most of the content is placed in one long paragraph, so the stages of the message are not clearly separated. Linking phrases such as “Unfortunately” and “Finally” help, but “Finally” feels mechanical, and the sequence around being unable to visit, shipping the item, and requesting a replacement or refund is somewhat confusing. Use separate paragraphs for the purchase and problem, your requested solution and urgency, and the closing details. Clearer links such as “As a result” and “Could you please…” would improve progression and cohesion.

Lexical Resource: Band 5.5

You use enough relevant vocabulary to communicate the situation, including “regular customer,” “replacement,” “refund,” and “birthday celebration.” These terms suit the purpose, although some expressions are inaccurate or unnatural, such as “some inquiry about my last purchased dress” and “a tampered stamp.” Spelling errors in “repalcement” and inconsistent forms such as “Maam” also reduce precision. The vocabulary is understandable, but the range is fairly basic and some word choices do not convey the intended meaning naturally. Aim for standard customer-service phrases and precise descriptions—for example, say that the size label appears to have been altered, and refer to your “recent purchase” or “order.”

Grammatical Range and Accuracy: Band 5.0

The letter communicates its main points, but grammatical control is uneven. There are some errors in verb forms, articles, agreement, and sentence boundaries: “it doesnt fit me well” should be “it doesn’t fit me well,” while “it was too small for me for a medium” needs a clearer construction, such as “it was too small for a medium.” The sentence beginning “I was confused” runs several ideas together, and “i have an scheduled doctors appointment” contains errors in article use and sentence structure. Most sentences rely on simple patterns, with limited accurate complex structures. Use full stops to separate actions and requests, and check subject–verb forms, articles, and capitalization to make the message easier to read.

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