Band 7.0 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 7.0 · Cambridge IELTS 17 · 2026-08-07

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 this to let you know about the recent problem I came across, while purchasing a yellow shirt from your website.

On last Monday, 22nd of March 2026, I placed an order from your online web store, the order number is [redacted phone]. I requested for an large size, yellow shirt. I made the payment online with my card ending with 9977. The order was on the name of Nizamuddin.

The shirt I received and the one I ordered are completely different, because you have delivered me the wrong colour, and pattern. I was suppose to receive a yellow shirt but I got an black shirt, additionally the pattern was also different then the one I ordered for.

I wanted to wear this shirt in the upcoming wedding function, and theme is yellow for that particular event. This is an really important occasion for me, as this is my brother wedding day. I request you to please send me the replacement, as I am not able to find the same colour and pattern anywhere near me.

I am looking forward to a prompt reply. Please and thank you.

Kind regards,

Nizamuddin Memon.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 7.5

The letter successfully addresses all three bullet points of the task. You provided clear details of the purchase, including the order number and payment method. The problem is described clearly, and the reason for the urgent replacement is well-justified by the upcoming wedding. The tone is appropriate for a formal complaint letter, and the purpose is clear throughout. To reach a higher band, ensure that all details are fully accurate; for instance, you mentioned 'an large size' and 'an black shirt', which are minor slips, but the overall communication of the task requirements is complete and well-developed.

Coherence and Cohesion — Band 7.0

The letter is logically organized with a clear progression of ideas. Each paragraph focuses on a specific aspect of the prompt, which helps the reader follow your argument easily. You used some cohesive devices such as 'additionally' and 'because', though the flow could be improved with more varied linking words. Paragraphing is used appropriately to separate the introduction, the problem, the justification, and the closing. The referencing is generally clear, and the letter maintains a consistent tone throughout, making it easy to read and understand.

Lexical Resource — Band 6.5

You have a sufficient range of vocabulary to convey your message clearly. You used relevant terms like 'order number', 'replacement', and 'prompt reply'. However, there are some minor errors in word choice and collocation, such as 'I was suppose to' (should be 'supposed to') and 'different then' (should be 'different from'). While these errors do not impede communication, they prevent the use of vocabulary from being considered 'flexible' or 'precise' at the higher band levels. Expanding your range of formal expressions would further improve your score.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 6.0

You demonstrate a mix of simple and complex sentence structures. While the meaning is always clear, there are several grammatical inaccuracies, such as 'an large size' (should be 'a large size'), 'an black shirt' (should be 'a black shirt'), and 'brother wedding day' (should be 'brother's wedding day'). These errors are frequent enough to be noticeable but do not cause difficulty for the reader. To improve, focus on article usage and possessive forms. The sentence structures are generally functional, but increasing the variety of complex sentences would enhance the overall grammatical range.

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

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