Band 6.5 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 6.5 · Cambridge IELTS 12 · 2026-08-23

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 this letter in regards to the equipment I purchased in your company two weeks ago. I bought a Retinoscope and Tonometer in your shop and was given a receipt.

I tried to make use of the tonometer today and observed a lot of fault with the machine. Firstly, the blue light which will contribute to checking the eye pressure was missing and I cannot make use of the instrument without it because it helps in the calibration. Although, the retinoscope was in a good condition but the battery does not last longer, making it goes off quickly. In addition it was not packaged properly when it was sent it me. The tonometer has made me halt my work for the moment as eye pressure measurement is very important. I would like to return the equipment and request for a change of instrument or a refund if it can not be changed.

Thank you, I hope my request is considered and attended to promptly.

Yours faithfully

Ajawara Chidimma

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 7.0

You have addressed all three bullet points of the task: describing the equipment problems, explaining the impact on your work, and stating your desired outcome. The tone is appropriate for a formal letter. However, the development of ideas is somewhat basic. For instance, while you mention the tonometer has a missing light and the retinoscope has battery issues, expanding slightly on the specific nature of the 'fault' or the 'calibration' process would have provided a more professional and convincing account. Overall, the purpose of the letter is clear and the requirements are fully met.

Coherence and Cohesion — Band 6.0

The letter follows a logical progression, moving from the purchase details to the specific problems, their impact, and finally the requested solution. You use basic cohesive devices such as 'Firstly', 'In addition', and 'Although' to link your ideas. However, the paragraphing is insufficient; the entire body of the letter is contained in one block. Breaking the text into distinct paragraphs—one for the problems, one for the impact, and one for the solution—would significantly improve the readability and structure of your writing.

Lexical Resource — Band 6.0

You demonstrate an adequate range of vocabulary for this task, using specific terms like 'tonometer', 'retinoscope', and 'calibration'. There are some minor issues with word choice and collocation, such as 'observed a lot of fault' (should be 'observed several faults' or 'a major fault') and 'request for a change of instrument' (more naturally 'request a replacement'). While the vocabulary is sufficient to convey your meaning clearly, it lacks the precision and variety required for a higher band score.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 6.0

You use a mix of simple and complex sentence structures. There are several grammatical errors, such as 'in regards to the equipment I purchased in your company' (should be 'from your company'), 'making it goes off' (should be 'making it go off'), and 'sent it me' (should be 'sent to me'). These errors are noticeable but do not impede the overall communication of your message. To improve, focus on subject-verb agreement and the correct use of prepositions.

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

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