Band 8.0 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 8.0 · Cambridge IELTS 17 · 2026-08-05

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/Madam,

I am writing to complain about a clothing item I bought from your online store last week. I ordered a blue medium-size jacket and it was delivered on August 3.

Unfortunately, I am not satisfied with my purchase. The jacket I received is the wrong size, and it also has a small tear on the left sleeve. The product is different from the one shown on your website, so I cannot wear it.

I need a replacement urgently because I bought this jacket for my sister's birthday party, which will take place this weekend. I do not have enough time to buy another one from a different store.

I would appreciate it if you could send me a replacement as soon as possible. Please let me know how I can return the damaged item.

Thank you for your prompt attention. I look forward to your reply.

Yours faithfully,

Meenu

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 8.0

The response fully addresses all three bullet points of the task. You clearly stated the purchase details (blue medium-size jacket, August 3 delivery), described the problems (wrong size and a tear), and provided a logical reason for the urgency (sister's birthday party this weekend). The tone is appropriate for a formal complaint letter, and the purpose is clear throughout. All requirements of the prompt have been met effectively, and the ideas are well-developed and relevant to the context of a customer complaint.

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 specific details, the justification for urgency, and finally the call to action. Cohesive devices such as 'Unfortunately', 'because', and 'as soon as possible' are used naturally to link sentences and ideas. The paragraphing is appropriate for a formal letter, and the overall structure is easy to follow, ensuring the reader understands the situation and the desired outcome without any confusion.

Lexical Resource — Band 7.0

The vocabulary is accurate and appropriate for the context of a formal complaint. You used specific terms such as 'delivered', 'satisfied', 'replacement', and 'prompt attention' correctly. While the range is sufficient to convey your message clearly, it remains somewhat functional. To reach a higher band, you could incorporate more sophisticated collocations or nuanced vocabulary related to customer service, such as 'defective item', 'discrepancy', or 'rectify the situation'. However, the current usage is precise and error-free, which is suitable for this task.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 8.0

The grammar is highly accurate, with a good mix of simple and complex sentence structures. You successfully used subordinate clauses (e.g., 'which will take place this weekend') and conditional structures (e.g., 'I would appreciate it if you could...'). There are no noticeable grammatical errors, and punctuation is used correctly throughout the letter. The control over sentence construction is strong, and the writing flows naturally, demonstrating a high level of proficiency in English grammar for this type of correspondence.

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

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