Band 7.0 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 7.0 · Cambridge IELTS 17 · 2026-07-24

IELTS Writing Task 1 question

You have bought some clothing online and are not satisfied with your purchase.

Write a letter to the company that you bought the clothing from. In your email:

• give details of the purchase
• describe the problem
• explain why you need a replacement urgently

You do NOT need to write any addresses.

Begin your letter as follows:

Dear Sir or Madam,

Student answer (Band 7.0)

Dear Sir,

I brought jacket online from your main branch of balancia on 26th of July through amazon online app.

When I received the order, the first thing I noticed was the package was damaged and when I checked my jacket which is white in color I saw that it has some black and pink stain as well as its zip is also not working properly.

Because of this problems in my purchase, I was so disappointed it was cost me 150$ and I have to wear this jacket in my college trip which is going to be held on next week.

So, if it is possible can I get the refund as it says that this purchase is non - refundable or can you exchange it with same or may be the similar style.

I hope you understand my situation and come up with the better solution. And I appreciate your time.

Thank You,

Linda

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 7.0

The letter covers all three bullet points required by the prompt: details of the purchase, the specific problems with the jacket, and the reason for the urgent replacement. The tone is appropriate for a formal complaint. However, the development of ideas is somewhat basic. For instance, the explanation regarding the college trip is brief, and the request for a refund or exchange could be more clearly articulated. While all parts of the task are addressed, the response would benefit from more detailed explanations to fully satisfy the requirements for a higher band score.

Coherence and Cohesion — Band 7.0

The letter is logically organized into distinct paragraphs, each serving a clear purpose. The progression of ideas is easy to follow, moving from the purchase details to the problem and finally the desired resolution. However, the use of cohesive devices is somewhat limited and occasionally mechanical. For example, the transition between the problem description and the impact is a bit abrupt. Using a wider variety of linking words or phrases (e.g., 'consequently', 'furthermore', 'given these circumstances') would improve the flow and help the letter sound more professional and cohesive.

Lexical Resource — Band 6.5

The vocabulary used is adequate for the task, allowing the writer to communicate the situation clearly. Words like 'disappointed', 'purchase', and 'replacement' are used correctly. However, there is a lack of variety and precision. Some phrasing is slightly unnatural, such as 'main branch of balancia' or 'it was cost me 150$'. To reach a higher band, the student should aim to use more sophisticated collocations and avoid repetitive structures. The spelling is generally accurate, but the overall range of vocabulary remains at a functional, rather than a flexible, level.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 6.5

The letter contains a mix of simple and complex sentence structures. While the meaning is always clear, there are several grammatical errors that persist throughout the text. Examples include 'I brought jacket' (missing article), 'it was cost me' (incorrect verb tense/structure), and 'its zip is also not working' (minor awkwardness). Punctuation is generally acceptable, but there are some run-on sentences. The student demonstrates an ability to construct complex sentences, but these are often marred by minor errors. Increasing the frequency of error-free sentences would significantly improve the score in this criterion.

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