Band 5.5 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 5.5 · Cambridge IELTS 12 · 2026-08-06

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 5.5)

Dear Mr. Smith,

I am writing this email to discuss a piece of equipment which I brough from your shop and it is not working.

Firstly, I would like to inform you that since last too many years I am using equipment which I brought every time from your shop, but this time I purchased printer which is not working properly, every time I am facing problems when I try to used.

In addition, I would like to add that whenever I tried to print my work paper it did not print anything, if it is print, then the ink will be all over the paper.

Finally, I would like to request you that if you can either exchange the printer or do refund as soon as possible. Also, I want to buy another one as early as possible because I have to utilize printer every day at work.

I hope to hear from you soon.

Kind Regards,

John.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 6.0

The letter addresses all three bullet points: the problem is described, the impact on work is explained, and a solution is requested. However, the tone is inconsistent; you began with 'Dear Mr. Smith' despite the instructions explicitly stating to begin with 'Dear Sir or Madam'. Furthermore, the explanation of the problem is slightly repetitive and lacks professional precision. While the purpose of the letter is clear, the development of ideas could be more formal to better suit the context of a business complaint. Overall, the task requirements are met, but the tone and structure could be more polished.

Coherence and Cohesion — Band 6.0

The letter is organized into short paragraphs, which helps the reader follow the flow of information. You use basic cohesive devices such as 'Firstly', 'In addition', and 'Finally' to sequence your points. However, the transitions between sentences are sometimes mechanical, and the logical progression within paragraphs is occasionally hindered by awkward phrasing, such as the shift from discussing your history with the shop to the specific printer issue. The use of referencing is generally clear, but the overall structure feels a bit disjointed due to the repetitive nature of the sentences.

Lexical Resource — Band 5.5

The vocabulary is adequate for the task but remains quite basic. You rely on simple verbs like 'brought' (which should be 'bought') and 'working'. There are some noticeable errors in word choice, such as 'utilize' where 'use' or 'rely on' would be more natural, and 'work paper' instead of 'documents'. The range of vocabulary is limited, and there is little attempt to use less common or more precise business-related terminology. To improve, focus on using more specific collocations related to faulty equipment and customer service requests.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 5.0

There are frequent grammatical errors throughout the letter. You struggle with verb tenses and sentence structure, such as 'since last too many years I am using' (should be 'I have been using... for many years') and 'if it is print' (should be 'if it does print'). There are also issues with word order and article usage. While the meaning is generally understandable, the high frequency of errors in basic structures prevents the writing from reaching a higher band. You should focus on mastering subject-verb agreement and the correct use of past and present perfect tenses.

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

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