Band 5.5 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 5.5 · Cambridge IELTS 17 · 2026-10-19

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,

My purpose to write this letter to grabe your attention on my unsatisfied purchase from last week.

My name is Jassy Coral , I placed an order ten days ago . I saw an addvertisement online and booked my suit through your app . It was three piece suit in blue colour . I was so excited when i received the parcel . But my expressions changed when I see the stuff .Actually it was not in blue it was black . Moreover the stuff was not that superior as it was described , Accept that the size was not mine . I was so disappointed .

I wanted to wear this dress on my brothers graduation party going to held day after tomorrow.

. I want to return this parcel and also need my full refund back. I am sendig you my account details . Looking forward for your prompet acction.

Thank you

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response: Band 5.5

You cover the main points by identifying the purchase as a blue three-piece suit ordered through the app, explaining that it arrived in black and did not fit, and linking the urgency to your brother’s graduation party in two days. However, the requested outcome is not fully clear: you ask for a return and refund, but do not say whether you also want a replacement, despite the task’s focus on needing one urgently. The purchase details could be more precise, such as giving an order number or confirming the purchase date. Develop the request directly—for example, ask for the correct suit in your size to be sent immediately, and state what you expect if that cannot be arranged.

Coherence and Cohesion: Band 5.5

The letter follows a broadly sensible order: purchase details, problems with the suit, the reason for urgency, and a request for action. This makes the situation understandable. However, the paragraphs are not clearly separated, and the opening and closing do not create a polished letter structure. Some links are abrupt, particularly the move from the graduation party to “I want to return this parcel,” and the isolated full stop before that request interrupts the flow. Use separate paragraphs for the purchase, the problems, and the urgent request, and connect the final points explicitly—for instance, explain that the event is soon, so you need the correct item sent promptly.

Lexical Resource: Band 5.0

You use some relevant clothing and purchase vocabulary, including “three piece suit,” “parcel,” “size,” and “full refund,” so the reader can identify the issue. However, several word choices and spelling errors make the letter less natural and occasionally unclear: “grabe your attention,” “expressions changed,” and “the stuff” do not accurately express your meaning in this context. “Superior” is also an awkward description of clothing quality. Aim for precise customer-service language, such as “bring this matter to your attention,” “the fabric was poor quality,” and “the item was not the colour advertised.” Check spelling carefully, especially in key words such as “advertisement,” “sending,” and “prompt action.”

Grammatical Range and Accuracy: Band 5.0

The response communicates its main message through mostly simple sentence patterns, with a few attempts to combine ideas using “when” and “Moreover.” However, errors occur frequently in sentence construction, verb forms, articles, and punctuation, and some make the message harder to follow. For example, “My purpose to write this letter” lacks a complete grammatical structure, while “I am sendig you my account details” uses an incorrect verb form. “I wanted to wear this dress on my brothers graduation party going to held” also has problems with the possessive and the construction describing the event. Practise accurate basic clauses first, then add controlled complex sentences, and proofread sentence boundaries and apostrophes.

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