Band 6.5 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 6.5 · Cambridge IELTS 12 · 2026-10-13

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 this letter to inform you about the problem i am currently facing in my job with the headset i bought from your store last week. I work online because i am a hybrid employee, therefore i use my headset on daily basis for clients and office meetings. For the past two days, i am unable to hear audio from the headset. Moreover, it has come to the point where i am facing extreme difficulty in daily meetings. This has led me to cancel a couple of meetings on daily basis due to which i am losing incentives on deals.

Therefore, i request your store to replace my headset as it is still under warranty.However, due to my daily chores i am unable to come to your store in-person. I would really appreciate it if you can arrange a dropoff to my house.

Thankyou in advance,

Regards.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response: Band 7.0

The letter addresses all three required points and maintains a clear, appropriate purpose. You identify the faulty headset and explain the practical consequences: you cannot hear audio, have had to cancel meetings, and are losing incentives. You also make a specific request for a replacement and ask for it to be delivered because you cannot visit the shop. These details make the complaint relevant and actionable. To strengthen the response further, develop the problem slightly more—for example, clarify whether the headset stopped working completely or whether you have tried any troubleshooting. The request is clear, though a more explicit reference to the warranty claim or the next steps would make the resolution even more complete.

Coherence and Cohesion: Band 6.5

The information follows a sensible sequence: you introduce the purchase, describe the fault and its effect on work, then state the remedy you want. Linking expressions such as “Moreover” and “Therefore” help show how the points relate, and the reader can follow the purpose throughout. However, the letter is presented as one dense paragraph, so the shift from describing the problem to making your request is not visually clear. Some links also feel mechanical, particularly the repeated cause-and-effect phrasing around cancelled meetings and lost incentives. Use separate paragraphs for the problem and its impact, then the requested action, and vary the transitions to make the progression smoother.

Lexical Resource: Band 6.0

You use an adequate range of vocabulary for a formal complaint, including “hybrid employee,” “under warranty,” “incentives,” and “arrange a dropoff.” These choices communicate the situation and requested remedy clearly. Some expressions are less natural or precise in this context: “facing extreme difficulty” is broad, while “on daily basis” and “daily chores” do not convey the intended meaning idiomatically. “Dropoff” is also better expressed as a delivery or collection arrangement in a formal letter. Aim for more precise customer-service language and natural collocations, such as describing the headset as “no longer producing sound” and asking the company to “deliver a replacement.”

Grammatical Range and Accuracy: Band 6.0

The letter includes a mix of simple and complex sentence forms, including a reason clause in “because i am a hybrid employee” and a conditional polite request in “I would really appreciate it if you can arrange…”. The meaning remains clear, but some grammatical and punctuation errors are present. For example, “for the past two days, i am unable” needs a present perfect form (“have been unable”), and “on daily basis” needs an article (“on a daily basis”). The conditional request would be more consistent as “if you could arrange…”. Capitalise “I,” add a space after the full stop in “warranty.However,” and complete the closing with appropriate punctuation. These corrections would improve accuracy while preserving your clear message.

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