Band 6.5 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 6.5 · Cambridge IELTS 12 · 2026-08-11

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 hope this letter finds you well. I am writing to complain about the recent problems I come across the laptop I received from your company for my work.

The main hurdle with my laptop is that it shuts down in the middle of my work. Actually, when I work for 3 hours continuously, these kinds of issues start appearing, and it is really hard to turn on the screen afterwards.

As the screen turns off in the middle of my work, it keeps delaying my work. I frequently miss my project deadlines. I only have this one laptop from my work, and all my work data is in it. Without the information, I can not work further, which eventually disturbs my work productivity.

I request the company to send a technician to check my laptop, and if possible, then replace it because I know it is still within the warranty period.

I will wait for your response. Thank you for your time and consideration.

Yours sincerely,

Jay

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 7.0

You have successfully addressed all three bullet points in the prompt. You described the technical problem clearly, explained the negative impact on your work deadlines and productivity, and provided a clear request for a technician or replacement. The tone is appropriate for a formal letter of complaint. The ideas are relevant and logically developed, ensuring the reader understands the urgency of the situation. To reach a higher band, you could provide slightly more specific details about the laptop model or the nature of the 'hurdle' to add depth, but overall, the task requirements are fully met.

Coherence and Cohesion — Band 7.0

The letter follows a logical structure with a clear introduction, body paragraphs, and a formal closing. Each paragraph focuses on a specific aspect of the task, which helps the reader follow your argument easily. You use some cohesive devices, such as 'As the screen turns off' and 'Without the information', to link your ideas. However, the flow could be improved by using a wider variety of linking words and transition phrases to connect sentences more fluidly. The paragraphing is appropriate, and the progression of ideas is clear throughout the text.

Lexical Resource — Band 6.0

You have a sufficient range of vocabulary to convey your message clearly. Phrases like 'project deadlines' and 'warranty period' are used accurately. However, there are some minor issues with word choice and collocation. For example, 'problems I come across the laptop' is slightly unnatural; 'problems I have encountered with the laptop' would be more precise. Similarly, 'hurdle' is usually used for abstract challenges rather than mechanical faults. Expanding your vocabulary to include more precise technical or formal business terminology would help you achieve a higher score.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 6.5

You demonstrate a mix of simple and complex sentence structures. Most of your sentences are clear and easy to understand, and your meaning is never obscured by errors. There are some minor grammatical slips, such as 'I come across' instead of 'I have come across' and 'all my work data is in it' which could be more formally phrased as 'all my work data is stored on it'. While you use some complex structures, increasing the variety of your sentence patterns would demonstrate better control and help you reach a higher band.

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

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