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 several faults 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, causing it switch off quickly. In addition it was not packaged properly when it was sent to 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 replaced

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 letter. The ideas are relevant and clearly presented, covering both the tonometer and the retinoscope. To reach a higher band, the development of the impact on work could be slightly more detailed, perhaps by mentioning specific deadlines or patient appointments affected, which would add more weight to the request for a refund or replacement.

Coherence and Cohesion — Band 6.5

The letter follows a logical structure, moving from the purchase details to the specific issues, the impact, and finally the requested action. Paragraphing is used, though the letter could benefit from a clearer separation between the introduction, the body of the complaint, and the conclusion. Cohesive devices such as 'Firstly', 'In addition', and 'Although' are used to link ideas, though some transitions feel slightly mechanical. The flow is generally smooth, and the reader can easily follow the progression of the complaint.

Lexical Resource — Band 6.0

The vocabulary is adequate for the task, with specific terminology related to the equipment (e.g., 'tonometer', 'retinoscope', 'calibration'). There are some minor inaccuracies in collocation and word choice, such as 'purchased in your company' (should be 'from') and 'request for a change' (should be 'request a replacement'). While the range is sufficient to convey the message clearly, it lacks the more sophisticated, precise phrasing that would characterize a higher band score. The tone remains professional throughout.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 6.0

The letter uses a mix of simple and complex sentence structures. There are some grammatical slips, such as 'does not last longer' (should be 'does not last long') and 'causing it switch off' (missing 'to'). Punctuation is generally functional, though there are some missing commas after introductory phrases. Despite these errors, the meaning is never in doubt, and the errors do not impede communication. The use of modal verbs like 'would like to' and 'can not be' is appropriate for the formal context.

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

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