Band 6.5 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 6.5 · Cambridge IELTS 12 · 2026-09-22

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 to complain about the keyboard, which i purchased from your shop in August.

It is black colored HP keyboard, which i purchased on last month on 14th August.The problem is num pad not working and my laptop does not support screen keybord so i need to use external. Some time while working some keys when i press remains pressed and become difficult to write.

This is affecting my work also because in my profession num pad plays important role while dealing with coustmers account and when i try to write few times it works otherwise i need to borrow laptop from my co-workers.

Moreover, keyboard is still under warranty and according to terms and condition it is eligiblke for replacement. I am requesting for exchange of keyboard with new one or please repair the keyboard if it can.

i am looking forward to hear from you.

Your faithfully,

Harleen Singh

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 7.0

The candidate successfully covers all three bullet points required in the task instructions. The problem with the equipment is clearly described (the numeric keypad is broken and some keys stick), the impact on work is explained (trouble dealing with customer accounts and needing to borrow a colleague's laptop), and the desired outcome is clearly stated (requesting a replacement or repair under warranty). The tone is appropriate for a formal complaint letter. The ideas are relevant and fully developed, satisfying the requirements for a Band 7.0.

Coherence and Cohesion — Band 6.5

The letter follows a clear logical organization with an appropriate opening and closing. Information is presented in a sequential manner, moving from the description of the item to the problem, the effect on work, and finally the requested solution. Paragraphing is used to separate main ideas, although some paragraphs could be more distinctly structured. Cohesive devices such as 'Moreover' and 'because' are used to connect ideas, though there are minor mechanical errors in linking. Overall, the organization is coherent and progression is clear throughout.

Lexical Resource — Band 6.0

The vocabulary used is adequate for the task, allowing the writer to communicate specific details about the equipment and the workplace problem. There are some attempts to use less common vocabulary items such as 'profession', 'warranty', and 'replacement'. However, there are noticeable spelling and word choice inaccuracies, such as 'eligiblke' instead of 'eligible' and 'coustmers' instead of 'customers'. Additionally, the phrase 'screen keybord' contains a spelling error. The range is sufficient for the task, fitting the Band 6.0 descriptors.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 6.0

The letter includes a mix of simple and complex sentence structures, such as relative clauses ('which i purchased') and conditional elements. However, there are frequent grammatical and punctuation errors throughout the text, including lowercase 'i', missing articles ('the keyboard', 'a new one'), and minor awkwardness in phrasing such as 'num pad not working' and 'it can'. While these errors do not severely impede communication, they are persistent enough to prevent the response from achieving a higher band score, aligning well with the Band 6.0 descriptors.

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

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