Band 6.5 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 6.5 · Cambridge IELTS 12 · 2026-11-11

IELTS Writing Task 1 question

You work at home and have a problem with a piece of equipment that you use for your job.

Write a letter to the shop or company which supplied the equipment. In your letter

• describe the problem with the equipment
• explain how this problem is affecting your work
• say what you want the shop or company to do

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 to complaint about the microphone which I bought from your company a month ago. I bought this product to ease my life but it has already started giving me trouble.

As I work remotely from home which involves several phone calls throughout the day. Using microphone while working was easier for me to communicate with clients on call and continue my task. However, from last week this equipment is providing clear voice from the caller. Due to this my productivity has decreased and it also is mentally exhausting.

In order to resolve this problem quickly I would like you to either fix or replace this microphone. This device is being protected under 6 month warranty. So, I would appreciate your help in resolving this issue as early as possible.

I hope you will take my request into consideration. Please inform me what is the best day I can come at your place to fix this microphone. I look forward to hearing from you.

Yours faithfully,

Suman

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response: Band 7.5

The letter addresses all three requirements: it identifies the microphone and when it was purchased, explains that unclear audio is affecting calls and productivity, and requests a repair or replacement under warranty. The purpose is clear and the tone is appropriately formal, with a suitable opening and closing. The impact on work is relevant, though “it also is mentally exhausting” is only briefly stated; a specific example, such as difficulty understanding clients or needing to repeat calls, would develop this point more fully. The request could also be more precise about the next step, since asking when you can “come at your place” leaves unclear whether the company should arrange collection, a repair appointment, or another solution.

Coherence and Cohesion: Band 7.0

The information follows a clear, useful sequence: the reason for writing, the work context and problem, the requested remedy, and a closing request. Paragraphing supports this progression, and linking expressions such as “However,” “Due to this,” and “In order to resolve this problem” help connect the ideas. Some connections are less smooth: the opening of the second paragraph, “As I work remotely from home which involves…,” does not form a complete, clear sentence, and “So” makes the warranty point feel slightly abrupt. The final paragraph also repeats the request to resolve the issue without adding much new information. More precise sentence links and a concise closing would make the progression feel more polished.

Lexical Resource: Band 6.0

The vocabulary is adequate for explaining the complaint and its consequences, with relevant terms such as “remotely,” “productivity,” “warranty,” and “resolve.” The writer also attempts more specific phrasing, including “mentally exhausting,” but some choices are inaccurate or unnatural: “ease my life,” “providing clear voice from the caller,” and “come at your place” do not express the intended meanings naturally. “Equipment” and “device” are understandable references, although “microphone” could be repeated where clarity matters. To improve, focus on natural collocations for describing faulty audio and requesting service, such as “the caller’s voice is unclear” and “bring the microphone to your service centre.”

Grammatical Range and Accuracy: Band 6.0

The letter uses a mix of simple and more complex forms, including the conditional request “I would like you to either fix or replace this microphone” and the relative clause “which I bought from your company.” Meaning is generally clear, but some grammatical errors remain. “I am writing to complaint” needs the infinitive “to complain,” while “As I work remotely from home which involves…” is an incomplete and awkwardly joined sentence. In “from last week this equipment is providing clear voice,” the time expression and verb construction are not well formed; a clearer version is “Since last week, the microphone has not transmitted the caller’s voice clearly.” There are also awkward structures in “it also is mentally exhausting” and “what is the best day I can come.” More accurate clause construction and tense choices would strengthen control.

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

Browse more IELTS Writing model answers or get your own writing scored by the same AI examiner.