Band 6.5 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 6.5 · Cambridge IELTS 17 · 2026-11-03

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 am writing this letter to express my dissatisfaction regarding the service i got from your company.My name is Mansi and i ordered a black color dress for my convocation ceremony last week on 23rd October.

Admittedly, i ordered a black color dress in small size and have beautiful flower petals on whole dress in white color.Also, there is a small zip at the top back of the dress to wear that dress. In addition, the cloths type was pure fabric.However,the dress i got is really different from the dress i ordered .The color is same but the design is different and cloth's type is totally different that mentioned on the online website and the size is large which is too loose for me to wear.My convocation is in 3 days and i am really worried about my dress .

Furthermore ,I just want a quick action from you because already paid dress and delivery cost.If you are not able to send the exact same dress ,then i want reimbursement for this as soon as possible.But i know your company is known for reputation and great customer service.Thank you for your time and consideration.

I look forward to hearing from you soon.

Your's faithfully,

Mansi

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response: Band 7.5

You address all three points clearly: you identify the purchase as a black dress ordered in small size on 23 October, explain that the design, fabric and size differ from what was advertised, and state that your convocation is in three days. The urgency is especially clear, and requesting either the correct dress or reimbursement gives the company a practical response. To make the request more fully developed, specify the action you prefer first—for example, express delivery of the correct dress before the ceremony—and give a clear deadline for the company to respond. The opening and closing are appropriate for a formal complaint, although the salutation should match the task’s requested wording more closely.

Coherence and Cohesion: Band 7.0

The letter follows a clear progression from the reason for writing, to the order details and problems, and then to the urgent request and closing. Paragraph breaks help distinguish these stages, and phrases such as “In addition” and “Furthermore” signal relationships between ideas. The sequence is easy to follow overall. However, some linking is mechanical or not quite suited to the relationship between ideas: “Admittedly” does not naturally introduce the dress’s specifications, and “Furthermore” adds little to the request that follows. The long middle paragraph also combines several details and problems; separating the original specifications from the defects would make the information easier to process. Use fewer, more precise transitions and clearer paragraphing.

Lexical Resource: Band 6.0

Your vocabulary is adequate for a complaint letter and communicates the main details, with useful task-related terms such as “convocation ceremony,” “reimbursement,” and “customer service.” You also attempt more specific descriptions, including “flower petals” and “small zip at the top back.” Some word choices and collocations are inaccurate or unnatural, however: “cloths type” and “pure fabric” do not clearly describe the material, while “quick action” is less idiomatic than a request for prompt action. “Black color dress” is also less natural than “black dress.” Aim for precise clothing and customer-service vocabulary, and check spelling and word forms such as “clothes” versus “cloth” so the description sounds clear and professional.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy: Band 5.5

You use a mix of simple and more extended sentence forms, including the contrast in “The color is same but the design is different” and the conditional request beginning “If you are not able to send…”. The message remains understandable, but some grammatical errors recur. Examples include missing articles in “the color is same” and “have beautiful flower petals,” and the awkward construction “the cloths type was pure fabric.” There are also run-on sentences where full stops are needed, such as between “company” and “My name,” and before “However.” Capitalise “I” consistently and use apostrophes and punctuation carefully. More accurate sentence boundaries and article use would improve control while preserving your range of structures.

See this exact question answered at other band scores. The same prompt compared across bands.

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