Band 8.0 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 8.0 · Cambridge IELTS 17 · 2026-08-01

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 am Krishna Suthar writing this letter to grab your attention to the product of your brand which I bought through your website and found worthless.

I have placed an order for a red coloured Micky mouse painted hoodie in size small which I got last couple of days ago.My order reference number is AE[redacted phone].

When I first saw that merchandise online on your website, I fell in love with it. So, I ordered it for me instantly. However, when I tried it on me yesterday, I found some small holes on the back side of both the sleeves.in addition, there are threads coming out from the bottom edge of the hoodie. It is very unfortunate to see which I received from renowned brand like your company.

Moreover, I have purchased this product in hurry as I had a plan of wearing on the pre Christmas party happening this weekend at my friend’s house. I would really appreciate your support on this matter and expect from you to send me a replacement of the same coloured & sized hoodie on an urgent basis.

I hope you understand my condition and will look into this matter carefully.

Your’s faithfully,

Krishna Suthar.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 8.5

The letter successfully addresses all three bullet points required by the prompt. You clearly provided the purchase details, including the order reference number, described the specific defects (holes in sleeves and loose threads), and explained the urgency regarding the upcoming Christmas party. The tone is appropriate for a formal complaint letter. The ideas are well-developed and the purpose of the letter is clear from the outset. You have fulfilled all the requirements of the task effectively.

Coherence and Cohesion — Band 8.0

The letter is logically organized with a clear progression of ideas. Each paragraph serves a distinct purpose, moving from the introduction of the issue to the details, the problem description, and finally the requested action. You use cohesive devices such as 'However', 'Moreover', and 'In addition' to link your sentences effectively. While some transitions are slightly mechanical, the overall flow is smooth and the paragraphing is appropriate for a formal letter.

Lexical Resource — Band 7.5

You demonstrate a good range of vocabulary suitable for a formal complaint. Phrases like 'renowned brand', 'merchandise', and 'on an urgent basis' are used correctly. There are a few minor word choice issues, such as 'worthless' (which is a bit strong for a damaged item) and 'in hurry' (should be 'in a hurry'). However, these do not impede communication. You have a sufficient range to convey your meaning with precision and style.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 7.0

You use a mix of simple and complex sentence structures. There are some minor grammatical errors, such as 'I am Krishna Suthar writing this letter to grab your attention to the product' (should be 'to draw your attention to a product'), 'last couple of days ago' (redundant), and 'wearing on the pre Christmas party' (should be 'wearing to the'). Despite these occasional slips, the majority of your sentences are error-free, and your meaning is always clear. Punctuation is generally accurate, though 'Your’s' should be 'Yours'.

Browse more IELTS Writing model answers or get your own writing scored by the same AI examiner.