Band 8.0 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 8.0 · Cambridge IELTS 17 · 2026-07-26

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 8.0)

Dear Sir or Madam,

I hope you are doing well. I am writing to express my deepest displeasure with the recent purchase that I made from your store. On Sunday, June 27th,2026 I visited your store due to attractive store offers. When I looked at the clothing, I liked a Black Denim Jacket along with the pearls on the sleeves to enrich the overall look. But, I was told to order online from the store website, as the Jacket in my size was not available.

Unfortunately, when I received my order, I was shocked after looking at the box, as it was terribly damaged. However, it did not bother me a lot, given that the product was important for me. But, upon unboxing the product, I found damage not only on the right sleeve but also on the back of the jacket too. The stitches were torn off, which could make the product not worth to the money I spent on it.

To mitigate the issues, I would request you to provide a replacement as soon as possible, as I need this jacket to wear on my birthday which is on next Tuesday. I have planned a theme party which is supposed to go with the dress code and for that I made a plan to wear it on my special day.

I believe these problems require immediate attention, and I would appreciate it if you resolve the issue urgently to maintain the customer experience. Thank you for your consideration. I look forward to your response.

Yours sincerely,

Milan Bodar

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 8.5

You have successfully addressed all three bullet points in the prompt. You provided details of the purchase, described the damage to the jacket, and clearly explained the urgency regarding your upcoming birthday party. The tone is appropriate for a formal letter of complaint, and the purpose is clear from the outset. The ideas are well-developed and relevant to the task requirements. To reach a higher band, ensure that the details provided are consistent; for example, you mentioned visiting a store to look at the jacket, but then stated you ordered it online, which is clear, but ensure the transition between these points remains concise.

Coherence and Cohesion — Band 7.5

The letter is logically organized with a clear introduction, body paragraphs, and a conclusion. Each paragraph focuses on a specific aspect of the task, which helps the reader follow your argument easily. You have used some cohesive devices such as 'Unfortunately', 'However', and 'To mitigate the issues' to link your ideas. While the flow is generally smooth, some transitions could be more sophisticated to avoid a slightly mechanical feel. Overall, the paragraphing is appropriate and contributes to the clarity of your message.

Lexical Resource — Band 7.5

You demonstrate a sufficient range of vocabulary to convey your message with precision. Phrases like 'deepest displeasure', 'mitigate the issues', and 'immediate attention' are well-chosen and appropriate for a formal complaint. There are a few minor issues with word choice, such as 'worth to the money', which should be 'worth the money'. However, these errors do not impede communication. You have attempted to use some less common vocabulary, which is a positive step toward higher band scores.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 7.5

You use a mix of simple and complex sentence structures effectively. Most of your sentences are clear and grammatically accurate. There are a few minor errors, such as 'which is on next Tuesday' (should be 'which is next Tuesday') and 'made a plan to wear it' (slightly redundant). Punctuation is generally handled well, though there is a missing space after the comma in the date 'June 27th,2026'. Despite these small slips, your control over grammar is strong, and the meaning is never obscured.

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