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

The letter successfully addresses all three bullet points: describing the equipment problems, explaining the impact on work, and stating the desired resolution. The tone is appropriate for a formal complaint. However, the development of ideas is somewhat basic. For instance, while you mention the tonometer has a missing light and the retinoscope battery is faulty, the explanation of how this impacts your work is brief. To reach a higher band, you could elaborate more on the specific professional consequences of these equipment failures, such as the number of patients affected or the urgency of the repairs.

Coherence and Cohesion — Band 6.0

The letter is logically organized, with a clear introduction, body, and conclusion. You use basic cohesive devices such as 'Firstly', 'In addition', and 'Although' to link ideas. However, the paragraphing is insufficient; the entire body of the letter is contained within a single block. Dividing the letter into distinct paragraphs—one for the problems, one for the impact, and one for the requested action—would significantly improve the flow and readability. Additionally, some transitions feel slightly mechanical, and the referencing could be smoother to improve the overall progression of the text.

Lexical Resource — Band 6.0

You demonstrate an adequate range of vocabulary for the task, using specific terms like 'tonometer', 'retinoscope', and 'calibration'. There are some minor errors in word choice and collocation, such as 'observed a lot of fault' (should be 'faults' or 'defects') and 'request for a change of instrument' (a more natural phrasing would be 'request a replacement'). While the vocabulary is sufficient to convey your meaning clearly, it lacks the flexibility and precision required for higher bands. Expanding your use of more sophisticated collocations would enhance your score.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 6.0

You use a mix of simple and complex sentence structures, which is appropriate for this task. However, there are several grammatical errors that occur throughout the text. Examples include 'purchased in your company' (should be 'from'), 'making it goes off' (should be 'making it go off'), and 'sent it me' (should be 'sent to me'). While these errors do not impede communication, they are frequent enough to prevent a higher score. Focusing on subject-verb agreement and preposition usage will help you achieve greater accuracy in your writing.

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

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