Band 9.0 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 9.0 · Cambridge IELTS 17 · 2026-08-03

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 9.0)

Dear Sir or Madam,

I am writing to express my dissatisfaction with a recent clothing purchase I made through your website. On 25 July, I ordered a navy-blue formal blazer and a pair of black trousers (Order No. [redacted phone]), which were delivered to my address three days later.

Unfortunately, the products I received were not as advertised. Firstly, the blazer was the wrong size, even though I carefully selected a medium according to your size guide. In addition, the trousers had a noticeable tear near the pocket, making them unsuitable to wear. To make matters worse, the colour of the blazer was considerably lighter than the one shown on your website. As a result, I am extremely disappointed with the quality of the items.

I would appreciate it if you could arrange an immediate replacement, as I urgently need these clothes for an important job interview scheduled for next week. Wearing professional attire is essential for making a positive first impression, and I do not have enough time to place another order elsewhere.

I kindly request that you send the correct items as soon as possible and provide a prepaid return label for the defective products. I look forward to your prompt response and a satisfactory resolution.

Yours faithfully,

Ramneet Kaur

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 9.0

The response fully addresses all three bullet points of the prompt. You provided clear details of the purchase, including the order number and date. The problems with the items—specifically the size, the tear, and the color discrepancy—are described clearly. Furthermore, you provided a compelling and logical reason for needing an urgent replacement by mentioning the upcoming job interview. The tone is consistently appropriate for a formal letter of complaint, and the purpose of the communication is clear from the outset. All requirements of the task have been met effectively.

Coherence and Cohesion — Band 9.0

The letter is logically organized with a clear progression of ideas. Each paragraph serves a distinct purpose: the introduction states the purpose, the second paragraph details the issues, the third explains the urgency, and the final paragraph outlines the requested action. You have used cohesive devices effectively, such as 'Unfortunately,' 'In addition,' and 'As a result,' to link your sentences and ideas smoothly. The paragraphing is appropriate, and the flow of information is natural and easy to follow throughout the entire response.

Lexical Resource — Band 8.5

You demonstrate a wide and precise range of vocabulary appropriate for a formal complaint. Phrases such as 'express my dissatisfaction,' 'not as advertised,' 'noticeable tear,' and 'satisfactory resolution' are used accurately and naturally. The language is sophisticated and fits the context of the task perfectly. There are no errors in word choice or collocation, and the vocabulary used is varied enough to convey your message with clarity and professional tone. This is a very strong performance in terms of lexical control.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 9.0

The response displays a high level of grammatical accuracy. You have used a variety of complex sentence structures, such as 'I would appreciate it if you could arrange...' and 'Wearing professional attire is essential for making a positive first impression.' Punctuation is used correctly throughout, and there are no noticeable grammatical errors. The majority of your sentences are error-free, and the control over tense and agreement is excellent. The writing is polished and demonstrates a high degree of grammatical flexibility.

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