Band 6.5 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 6.5 · Cambridge IELTS 12 · 2026-09-27

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 6.5)

Dear Sir/Madam,

I am writing to you regarding a wireless keyboard I purchased from your shop recently. I am also attaching the purchase receipt with this letter. I work remotely as a data entry assistant and I have to do a lot of typing, the problem with this keyboard is that there is a lag while typing and sometimes it misses some of the keys when typing very fast.

This fault is affecting my work because there have been a lot of mistakes since I started using this keyboard and I have to redo all my work which wastes a lot of time.

Fortunately, the brand offer a six months warranty which still applicable. I request you to kindly exchange it and give me a new one but make sure that it is properly tested. Also, kindly inform me about the procedure of this exchange whether I should drop it off at your store or you can arrange a pickup from my home.

Looking forward to your response.

Kind regards,

Wick

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response: Band 6.5

The response effectively covers all three bullet points required in the task instructions. First, the student describes the problem clearly, stating that the wireless keyboard experiences a lag and misses keystrokes when typing quickly. Second, the impact on work is well-explained, noting that the errors force the writer to redo data entry tasks, wasting valuable time. Finally, the desired action is clearly stated, requesting an exchange for a tested replacement and asking about the return procedure. The tone is appropriate for a formal complaint letter. The response fully addresses all aspects of the prompt with relevant and well-developed ideas, aligning well with the Band 7.0 requirements.

Coherence and Cohesion: Band 6.5

The letter maintains a clear logical organisation and progression throughout. Each paragraph serves a distinct purpose: introducing the item and problem, explaining the consequences, and stating the requested solution. Cohesive devices are used adequately, such as 'This fault' and 'Also', though some sentences could be linked more fluidly. Paragraphing is used appropriately, and referencing is generally clear, such as referring back to the keyboard and the warranty. Overall, the structural flow ensures the reader easily follows the narrative and purpose of the communication, satisfying the criteria for a solid Band 7.0.

Lexical Resource: Band 6.0

The student demonstrates an adequate and appropriate range of vocabulary for this general task, using terms such as 'remotely', 'data entry assistant', and 'warranty'. While there are attempts at less common phrasing, some word choices are slightly awkward or basic, such as 'the brand offer' instead of 'offers' and 'procedure of this exchange'. Spelling and word choice errors do not impede communication at all. The range is sufficient for some flexibility and precision, making Band 6.5 a fair representation of the lexical control demonstrated here.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy: Band 6.0

The writing includes a mix of simple and complex sentence forms, such as 'I work remotely as a data entry assistant and I have to do a lot of typing'. There are some grammatical errors and punctuation issues, such as run-on sentences ('...a lot of typing, the problem with this keyboard...') and a subject-verb agreement error ('the brand offer... which still applicable'). However, these errors do not impede communication and the meaning remains clear throughout. Because there are frequent error-free clauses mixed with a few persistent mechanical slips, the performance sits comfortably at Band 6.5.

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