Band 7.0 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 7.0 · Cambridge IELTS 17 · 2026-08-04

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 or Madam,

I am writing to express my dissatisfaction regarding a recent purchase from your store.

I have been your loyal customer for many years and have recommended your products and services to both my family and friends. Yesterday, I visited your clothing store to purchase some beautiful sarees for my friends wedding. The representative showed me a very delicate silk saree with colourful border. I loved the artwork and material. I immediately purchased it.

On returning home, I found the saree damaged from its right side. Also, the border patch was unfinished. I was extremely disappointed with both the product and the store. I even tried contacting your customer services but I did not receive any response.

I have to leave for my friends wedding in the coming week. I would appreciate it if you could give me a replacement immediately and also provide a stitched blouse as soon as possible. I hope you understand my urgency. Hope to hear from you soon.

Yours faithfully,

Riya. R.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 7.0

The letter successfully addresses all three bullet points: providing purchase details, describing the damage, and explaining the urgency of the replacement. The tone is appropriate for a formal complaint. However, there is a slight inconsistency in the prompt instructions versus the content; the prompt mentions buying clothing 'online,' but the letter states, 'I visited your clothing store.' While this is a minor deviation, the overall task is fulfilled effectively. The purpose of the letter is clear, and the request for a replacement and a stitched blouse is well-articulated, ensuring the reader understands the specific needs of the writer.

Coherence and Cohesion — Band 7.5

The letter is logically organized into clear paragraphs, each serving a distinct purpose. The progression of ideas is smooth, moving from the purchase context to the problem and finally the requested solution. Cohesive devices are used appropriately, such as 'On returning home' and 'I would appreciate it if.' However, the transition between the second and third paragraphs could be slightly more fluid. The use of referencing is generally clear, and the letter follows a standard formal structure, which aids in the overall readability and coherence of the message.

Lexical Resource — Band 7.0

The vocabulary is sufficient for the task and conveys the message clearly. Phrases like 'loyal customer,' 'delicate silk saree,' and 'extremely disappointed' are well-chosen and appropriate for a formal complaint. There is an attempt to use specific terminology related to the clothing item. To reach a higher band, the writer could incorporate more sophisticated collocations or less common lexical items to describe the damage or the urgency of the situation. The current range is adequate and allows for precise communication without any significant errors in word choice.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 7.0

The letter demonstrates a good mix of simple and complex sentence structures. Most sentences are error-free, and the grammar is generally accurate. There are minor punctuation issues, such as the missing apostrophe in 'friends wedding' (should be 'friend's wedding') and 'its right side' (should be 'its' as a possessive, though the usage here is correct, the phrasing is slightly awkward). These are minor slips that do not impede communication. The control over verb tenses is consistent, and the formal tone is maintained throughout the writing.

See this exact question answered at other band scores — the same prompt compared across bands.

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