Band 6.0 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 6.0 · Cambridge IELTS 12 · 2026-10-01

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 to complaint on the headset that i recently purchased from your store ABC Electronics.

I had purchased it last week from your outlet at New york. At the time of the sale it tested good but after few days it as started giving me problems. The Bluetooth suddenly turns off, disturbance in audio quality. Furthermore, the headset adjustment just slides off and does not set at right point. Due to this my work performance as taken a hit. The nature of the work i do requires frequent meetings calls to attend and with this headset i am not able do my work right.

Therefore, I request you to replace this item at soonest or place me a refund. If it is going to take longer. Please, look at this matter at the earliest and i hope you will help to resolve this soon. I look forward to hearing from you.

Yours faithfully,

James

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response: Band 6.5

The response successfully addresses all parts of the prompt by describing the problem with the headset, explaining how it affects the writer's work performance, and stating the desired outcome. The purpose of the letter is clear throughout. However, some aspects are more fully developed than others. For instance, the description of the fault mentions that 'the Bluetooth suddenly turns off' and notes 'disturbance in audio quality,' but the explanation of the impact on work remains somewhat general. The request for action is straightforward, asking for a replacement or a refund. To reach a higher level, the ideas would need more thorough expansion with specific details regarding how the malfunctioning equipment disrupts professional duties.

Coherence and Cohesion: Band 6.5

The letter presents a coherent overall arrangement with a clear tone appropriate for a complaint letter. The text is divided into logical paragraphs that separate the introduction, the problem and its effects, the desired resolution, and the sign-off. However, cohesion is sometimes mechanical or faulty. For instance, transitional phrases like 'Furthermore' are used, but referencing and sentence linking occasionally falter, such as the abrupt shift in the final paragraph: 'Therefore, I request you to replace this item at soonest or place me a refund. If it is going to take longer. Please, look at this matter...' Improving the flow between sentences and refining the use of cohesive devices would enhance the logical progression.

Lexical Resource: Band 5.5

The vocabulary used is adequate for the task, demonstrating sufficient range to communicate the main points effectively. The writer attempts some less common vocabulary items, such as 'performance has taken a hit' and 'frequent meetings calls,' but these attempts feature inaccuracies in word choice, collocation, and phrasing. There are also noticeable errors in word formation and spelling, such as writing 'complaint' instead of 'complain' and 'at soonest' instead of 'as soon as possible.' These errors do not impede overall communication, but they restrict the lexical score because of imprecise usage and occasional strain on the reader.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy: Band 5.5

The response displays a mix of simple and complex sentence forms, though control over grammar is inconsistent. There are some error-free sentences, but several grammatical errors and punctuation issues persist throughout the text. Examples include article omission and incorrect prepositions or verb forms, such as 'I am writing to complaint on the headset that i recently purchased,' 'after few days it as started giving me problems,' and the sentence fragment 'If it is going to take longer. Please, look at this matter...' While these errors rarely impede communication, their frequency prevents the writing from achieving a higher level of grammatical control.

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