Band 6.5 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer
Overall Band Score: 6.5 · Cambridge IELTS 17 · 2026-10-31
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 or Madam,
I hope this letter finds you well,
I am writing this to make an urgent replacement request of my order which I purchased from your website.
Recently, I ordered blue coloured denim jacket in medium size from your portal. My order number is #[redacted phone] and I received the parcel on 28th october.
The jacket which I ordered was blue in medium size. However, the jacket which I received is black in colour and the size is large instead of medium. That does not match the description of my purchase.
I need an urgent replacement because, I ordered it to wear it on my college function that is going to held in next week. Moreover, the function requires everyone to follow the dressing code that is blue denim jacket for boys. So, I want you to process my request as earliest as you can.
I am also providing the copy of screenshots of my ordered product for your reference.
I am hoping to get my replacement soon.
Kind regards,
Owais Ansari
AI examiner evaluation
| Criterion | Band |
|---|---|
| Task Achievement / Task Response | 7.5 |
| Coherence and Cohesion | 6.5 |
| Lexical Resource | 6.0 |
| Grammatical Range and Accuracy | 6.0 |
| Overall | 6.5 |
Task Achievement / Task Response: Band 7.5
The letter clearly addresses all three requirements: it identifies the purchase with the item, size, colour, order number and delivery date; explains that the jacket received was black and large; and gives a specific reason for urgency, namely a college function next week with a blue-denim dress code. The screenshots are also mentioned as supporting evidence, and the request for a replacement is clear throughout. These details make the purpose convincing and well supported. To make the request even more complete, specify the exact remedy you expect—for example, delivery of the correct jacket before the function—and briefly state what you would like the company to do if that deadline cannot be met.
Coherence and Cohesion: Band 6.5
The information follows a sensible order: the purpose comes first, followed by purchase details, the problem, the urgency and supporting evidence. Separate paragraphs help the reader locate each point, and links such as “However” and “Moreover” make relationships clear. This is a coherent overall arrangement. Some connections are less smooth or slightly mechanical, though: “I am writing this to make an urgent replacement request of my order” is followed by a separate purchase-details paragraph, while the final two sentences repeat the hope for a quick replacement. The opening and closing could be integrated more naturally, and the urgency paragraph would flow better if the reason and requested action were joined directly.
Lexical Resource: Band 6.0
The vocabulary is adequate for a formal complaint and communicates the key facts clearly, with useful terms such as “order number,” “replacement,” “reference” and “dressing code.” However, some word choices and collocations are awkward or repetitive, including “replacement request of my order,” “from your portal” and “process my request as earliest as you can.” “Blue coloured” and repeated references to the jacket also limit precision and variety. These choices do not prevent understanding, but they show that phrasing is not consistently natural. Aim for conventional customer-service expressions and more precise verbs, such as “request a replacement,” “ordered through your website” and “expedite the replacement.”
Grammatical Range and Accuracy: Band 6.0
The letter uses a mix of simple statements and more complex forms, including the contrast introduced by “However” and the reason clause beginning “because.” Most sentences communicate their meaning, but some grammatical errors remain. For example, “I ordered it to wear it” repeats the object unnecessarily, “that is going to held” is missing “be,” and “the function requires everyone to follow the dressing code that is blue denim jacket” has an unclear clause structure. The comma after “because” is also unnecessary. These errors rarely obstruct the message, but more accurate verb forms, articles and clause construction would improve control. Practise proofreading each sentence for a complete verb phrase and a clear subject–verb relationship.
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