Band 6.5 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 6.5 · Cambridge IELTS 12 · 2026-08-22

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 very disappointed to write this letter to inform you about the product I purchased online from your company. Last week, I placed an order from the dell official website for a laptop and within the two days I received it. The window was not operating properly in the system.

As when I opened the laptop everything was fine. But when I opened it the window10 was there and pixels of the window was not fine. I ordered a laptop with an i5 processor but the laptop I received has an i3 processor.

I am an employee of a multi national company and from the last couple of months I took permission to work from home. For this reason, I purchased the new laptop. But the features, window quality of the laptop is very bad. Due to this I am suffering a lot of problem in my work. For instance, slides are not so good as the company expected due the window issue, processor is very slow.

I hope you understand my concern. I am requesting you to replace the item. So that I can work smoothly. I really appreciate for your support and time.

Yours Sincerely,

Allen

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 6.5

The letter addresses all three bullet points: the problem is described, the impact on work is explained, and a resolution is requested. However, the description of the technical issues is somewhat vague and repetitive. For example, the mention of 'window' (likely meaning Windows OS) and 'pixels' is unclear, and the claim about the processor mismatch is stated but not fully developed in terms of the specific impact on your professional tasks. To reach a higher band, ensure that the explanation of how the problem affects your work is more precise and professional in tone.

Coherence and Cohesion — Band 6.5

The letter is logically organized into clear paragraphs, each serving a specific purpose. The progression of ideas is generally easy to follow. However, the use of cohesive devices is somewhat mechanical and limited. Phrases like 'For this reason' and 'For instance' are used correctly, but the transitions between sentences could be smoother. Some sentences feel slightly disjointed, particularly in the second paragraph where the transition between the screen issue and the processor issue is abrupt. Improving the variety of linking words would enhance the flow.

Lexical Resource — Band 6.0

The vocabulary is generally adequate for the task, but it lacks the precision required for a higher band. You rely on basic descriptors such as 'not so good' and 'very bad', which are repetitive and lack professional nuance. There are also some inaccuracies in terminology, such as referring to the operating system as 'the window' rather than 'Windows' or 'the operating system'. To improve, try to incorporate more specific vocabulary related to technical support and professional communication.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 6.0

You demonstrate a mix of simple and complex sentence structures. While the meaning is generally clear, there are several grammatical errors, such as 'within the two days' (should be 'within two days') and 'I am suffering a lot of problem' (should be 'a lot of problems'). Additionally, there are issues with article usage and prepositional phrases. While these errors do not impede communication, they occur frequently enough to prevent a higher score. Focus on subject-verb agreement and the correct use of articles to improve accuracy.

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

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