Band 6.0 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 6.0 · Cambridge IELTS 12 · 2026-08-20

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 6.0)

Dear Sir or Madam,

I am writing to complain about a problem with a piece of equipment that I purchased from your company last month. I use this equipment every day for my work at home.

The main problem is that the equipment suddenly stops working after being used for only a few minutes. I have already checked the power supply and followed the instructions, but the problem still continues.

This issue is seriously affecting my work because I cannot complete my daily tasks on time. As a result, I have experienced delays and missed important deadlines.

I would be grateful if you could send a technician to repair the equipment as soon as possible. If the problem cannot be fixed, I would like to request a replacement.

I look forward to your prompt response.

Yours faithfully,

pedro

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 5.0

The letter addresses all three bullet points: the problem is described, the impact on work is explained, and a clear request for action is made. However, the response is 138 words long, failing to meet the 150-word minimum requirement. This under-length significantly impacts the development of ideas, as the points are covered in a very brief, functional manner without sufficient detail or elaboration. To improve, you should expand on the nature of the equipment and provide more specific examples of how the work is being affected to ensure the response is more comprehensive and meets the length requirement.

Coherence and Cohesion — Band 6.5

The letter is logically organized with a clear introduction, body paragraphs, and a formal closing. Each paragraph focuses on a single aspect of the prompt, which helps the reader follow the narrative. Cohesive devices such as 'The main problem is', 'As a result', and 'If the problem cannot be fixed' are used appropriately to link ideas. While the structure is sound, the brevity of the response limits the opportunity to demonstrate a wider range of cohesive devices. The paragraphing is appropriate for a formal letter.

Lexical Resource — Band 6.0

The vocabulary used is functional and appropriate for a formal complaint letter. Phrases like 'purchased from your company', 'power supply', and 'prompt response' are accurate and fit the context well. However, the range of vocabulary is somewhat limited and relies on fairly standard, repetitive phrasing. There is little evidence of less common or more sophisticated lexical items. To reach a higher band, you should aim to incorporate more precise terminology related to the equipment or the business context, and vary your word choices to show greater flexibility.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 6.5

The letter demonstrates a good level of grammatical accuracy. Most sentences are error-free, and the control over basic and complex structures is consistent. You successfully used a mix of simple and complex sentences, such as the conditional structure 'If the problem cannot be fixed, I would like to request a replacement.' Punctuation is generally correct, and the tone is appropriately formal. While the range of structures is sufficient for the task, further variety in sentence length and complexity would enhance the quality of the writing.

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

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