Band 6.0 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 6.0 · Cambridge IELTS 12 · 2026-09-01

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 6.0)

Dear Sir or Madam,

I am writing this letter to raise a concern of a purchase I made at your shop last week. I bought a multi-functional table as I work from home. After setting up the table , drawers in that table are not fully functional and they make a weird sound while opening.

Additionally while working when I try to grab something from the drawer it doesn’t operate smoothly which causes distraction. When I was in your shop and the sales representative showed me this table it was very smooth and operational.

However,its only a week since I bought it so it is under warranty. It would be much appreciated if you can replace that table or can give a solution in this case. I will be waiting for your response

Thank you regards

Xyz

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 5.5

The letter covers all three bullet points: the problem is described, the impact on work is explained, and a solution is requested. However, the response is under the 150-word minimum, which negatively impacts the development of ideas. The explanation of how the problem affects your work is somewhat brief, and the overall tone is appropriate for a formal letter. To improve, ensure you expand on the consequences of the faulty equipment to meet the length requirement and provide a more comprehensive explanation of the situation.

Coherence and Cohesion — Band 6.0

The letter is logically organized with a clear introduction, body, and conclusion. Paragraphing is used, though the body paragraphs are quite short. Cohesive devices such as 'Additionally', 'However', and 'as' are used to link ideas, but the flow is occasionally slightly mechanical. The progression of ideas is clear, moving from the description of the issue to the impact and finally the desired resolution. To reach a higher band, focus on using a wider variety of linking words and ensuring that each paragraph is fully developed with more supporting sentences.

Lexical Resource — Band 6.0

The vocabulary is generally adequate for the task, allowing for clear communication. You use some relevant terms like 'multi-functional', 'operational', and 'warranty'. However, the range is somewhat limited, and there are minor issues with word choice, such as 'raise a concern of a purchase' (should be 'regarding') and 'give a solution in this case'. To improve, try to incorporate more precise collocations and avoid repetitive phrasing. Using more sophisticated vocabulary related to customer service and product defects would enhance the professional tone of the letter.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 5.5

The response contains a mix of simple and complex sentence structures. There are several grammatical errors, such as 'drawers in that table are not fully functional' (missing article 'the'), 'its only a week' (should be 'it is' or 'it's'), and 'Thank you regards' (punctuation error). While these errors do not prevent the reader from understanding the message, they occur frequently enough to impact the overall accuracy. To improve, pay closer attention to subject-verb agreement, the use of articles, and consistent punctuation, especially in the closing of the letter.

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

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