Band 6.5 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 6.5 · Cambridge IELTS 17 · 2026-11-04

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 am writing express my concern regarding purchase online from your website. I am a regular customer of your clothing Brand and your quality is always premium.

Last week, I ordered some cloths from your website such as one three piece suit in black colour with white shirt. My order number is MNX#02323 and product code is BLZ#1097.

Yesterday, I received a delivery and I am to excited to wear this suit because I love your clothing brand. When I opened this parcel I am really very shocked and disappointed because this was wrong product. I ordered black suit but this is navy blue suit.

I made this order for wearing on my brother's marriage that will be next week. We all decided to wear same dress on his marriage that's why I ordered online. Therefore, I am requesting to you please replace it immediately or I can do one thing I can visit on your local outlet and please replace it from there. I am really appreciate to you helping me.

Yours faithfully

Abhishek

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response: Band 7.5

You address all three requirements clearly: you identify the purchase with the order and product codes, explain that the suit arrived in navy blue rather than black, and state that it is needed for your brother’s wedding next week. The request for an immediate replacement, including the option of visiting a local outlet, gives the company a practical next step. These details make the purpose of the letter clear and support the urgency. To make the response more fully developed, specify what action you expect the company to take and by when—for example, confirming dispatch of the correct suit before the wedding. A brief mention of how the company can arrange collection or return of the incorrect item would also make the request more complete.

Coherence and Cohesion: Band 6.5

The letter follows a sensible sequence: you introduce your concern, give the purchase details, describe the delivery problem, and explain the wedding deadline before making a request. Paragraph breaks help distinguish these stages, and linking expressions such as “Yesterday” and “Therefore” guide the reader through the account. The overall progression is clear, while some connections are less smooth or precise. For example, “Therefore” does not quite express the relationship between the wedding plans and the replacement request, and the alternatives in “replace it immediately or I can do one thing” are awkwardly joined. Use clearer transitions and separate the requested action from your offer to visit an outlet. This would make cohesion more flexible and less mechanical.

Lexical Resource: Band 6.0

You use enough vocabulary to communicate the purchase, the colour mismatch, and the occasion, including “order number,” “product code,” “disappointed,” and “replace.” The contrast between “black” and “navy blue” is especially clear. There are, however, several inaccurate word choices, forms, and collocations that make the letter sound less natural, such as “cloths” for clothing items, “I am to excited,” and “I am really appreciate to you helping me.” “Clothing Brand” is also unnecessarily capitalised. Aim for precise, conventional expressions in a formal complaint, such as “garments,” “I was excited to wear it,” and “I would appreciate your assistance.” This would improve accuracy and formality while retaining your clear meaning.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy: Band 5.5

You attempt both simple and more complex sentences, including the explanation beginning “because” and the reason introduced by “that’s why.” The reader can generally follow the message, but some errors in verb forms, articles, and sentence construction remain. For example, “I am writing express” needs an infinitive marker (“to express”), “I am to excited” has an incorrect construction, and “I am really appreciate” uses an unsuitable verb form. Tense choices also shift in “When I opened this parcel I am really very shocked,” where past-tense narration would be more consistent. Practise checking each sentence for a complete verb pattern and consistent tense, and use punctuation to separate longer ideas. More accurate control of these structures would strengthen the letter.

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

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