Band 5.5 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 5.5 · Cambridge IELTS 12 · 2026-08-27

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 5.5)

Dear Tool shop I writing to you because recently I have an issued with a tool I bought from your website.

3 days ago I have seen on your website a deal for a welder machine it was 50% on sale, so i decided to buying that machine.

I received the machine yesterday I used for 3 hours and than the machine stopped to work, after a big explosion and a big blackout in my building.

I almost lose my hands for that explosion and my eye and I close my workshop for 1 day.

I think your company should stopped to sold that machine and check the electrical components inside the machine for a review.

I also would like a full refund of this machine and I would like your company pays may medical treatments because I went to the hospital for 3 day after the incident and I'm still recovery now.

Thank you for your time and I hope we could resolve this situation.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 6.0

You have addressed all three bullet points required by the prompt: describing the problem, explaining the impact on your work, and stating your desired resolution. The tone is appropriate for a formal complaint letter. However, the development of ideas is somewhat limited. For example, while you mention the impact on your work, the narrative about the explosion and medical treatment is quite dramatic and could be more professionally articulated to ensure the focus remains on the equipment failure and the business impact. To improve, ensure that your requests are clearly structured and that the narrative flow remains professional throughout the letter.

Coherence and Cohesion — Band 5.5

The letter follows a logical progression, moving from the purchase to the incident and finally to the requested resolution. However, the paragraphing is non-existent, which makes the text appear as a single block. Using distinct paragraphs for the introduction, the problem description, the impact, and the conclusion would significantly improve the readability and structure. Additionally, the use of cohesive devices is quite basic; you rely heavily on simple conjunctions like 'and' or 'so'. Incorporating a wider range of linking words, such as 'consequently', 'furthermore', or 'as a result of this', would help the ideas flow more naturally.

Lexical Resource — Band 5.5

Your vocabulary is generally adequate for the task, allowing you to communicate the situation clearly. You use some relevant terms like 'welder machine', 'electrical components', and 'full refund'. However, there are several instances of awkward word choice and collocation errors, such as 'I have an issued' instead of 'I have an issue', 'stopped to sold' instead of 'stopped selling', and 'I'm still recovery' instead of 'I am still recovering'. These errors occasionally distract the reader. To reach a higher band, focus on using more precise verbs and ensuring correct word forms in your sentences.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 5.0

The response contains a mix of simple and some attempted complex structures, but there is a high frequency of grammatical errors. Issues include tense inconsistencies ('I have seen' instead of 'I saw'), incorrect verb forms ('decided to buying' instead of 'decided to buy'), and missing articles or prepositions. Punctuation is also inconsistent, with several run-on sentences that lack proper commas or periods. While the meaning is generally understandable, the frequent errors in basic grammar and sentence construction prevent the writing from reaching a higher band. Focusing on subject-verb agreement and consistent tense usage will be key to improvement.

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

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