Band 6.5 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 6.5 · Cambridge IELTS 12 · 2026-09-03

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,

I am writing to express the troublesome situation with my laptop that i have bought last month from your company. The laptop is of hp brand the latest model.

I use laptop for my personal and professional tasks. However, recently i found the device started making some unusual noise and stopped working. I didn’t expect that as it was a completely brand new product. It was being quite challenging for me to operate while attending an online meeting in the morning. I am unable to use its touchpad since the window screen gets stuck and not moving. The unresolved issue is triggering my work adversely. I would truly appreciate it if you could resolve this matter as soon as possible. I would prefer a replacement for the product or full refund whichever is possible.

I look forward to your prompt response to this matter and an appropriate resolution.

Best regards,

Manpreet kour

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 7.0

You have successfully addressed all three bullet points in the prompt. You described the laptop's technical issues, explained the impact on your work, and clearly stated your desired resolution (a replacement or refund). The tone is appropriate for a formal letter of complaint. To reach a higher band, ensure that your ideas are slightly more developed; for instance, providing a specific example of how the 'unusual noise' or the 'stuck screen' prevented you from completing a specific work task would add more depth to your explanation.

Coherence and Cohesion — Band 6.5

The letter follows a logical structure, moving from the introduction of the problem to the impact and finally the requested action. Paragraphing is used, though the letter could benefit from a more distinct separation between the problem description and the impact on your work. You use some cohesive devices like 'However' and 'Therefore' (implied), but the flow could be improved by using a wider variety of linking words to connect your sentences more fluidly. The overall progression of ideas is clear and easy to follow.

Lexical Resource — Band 6.0

You have a sufficient range of vocabulary to communicate your message clearly. Phrases like 'troublesome situation' and 'unresolved issue' are appropriate for the context. However, there are some minor inaccuracies in word choice and collocation, such as 'i have bought last month' (should be 'I bought last month') and 'triggering my work adversely' (which is slightly unnatural; 'hindering my work' would be better). Expanding your range to include more precise technical or formal business terminology would help elevate your score.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 6.0

You demonstrate a mix of simple and complex sentence structures. While the meaning is always clear, there are recurring grammatical errors, particularly with capitalization (e.g., 'i' instead of 'I') and article usage (e.g., 'I use laptop' instead of 'I use the laptop'). There are also some tense inconsistencies, such as 'that i have bought' instead of 'that I bought'. While these errors do not impede communication, they occur frequently enough to prevent a higher band score. Focusing on proofreading for basic subject-verb agreement and capitalization will significantly improve your accuracy.

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

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