Band 7.5 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 7.5 · Cambridge IELTS 17 · 2026-08-11

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 7.5)

Dear Sir,

I am writing to complain about the jacket that I purchased recently from your online store. I ordered a black winter jacket, size large, on 5 August, and it was delivered to me three days later. My order number is #45213.

Unfortunately, I am not satisfied with the product I recevied. Although, it looks same as shown on your website, the zipper is broken and does not close properly. In addition, I noticed that one of the button is missing. As a result, I am unable to wear the jacket comfortably especially in cold weather.

I would appreciate it if you could arrange a replacement as soon as possible. I urgently need the jacket because I am travelling to cold region next week and required suitable winter clothing for the trip. I would be greatful if you could send me a replacement before my departure.

Let me know if you required any photograph or additional information of the faulty product. I look forward to your response.

Yours faithfully,

Neel Mistry.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 8.0

The response successfully addresses all three bullet points of the task. You provided the necessary purchase details, clearly described the defects (broken zipper and missing button), and explained the urgency of the replacement due to your upcoming trip. The tone is appropriate for a formal letter of complaint, and the purpose of the communication is clear from the outset. The ideas are well-developed and relevant to the prompt, fulfilling 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 focuses on a specific aspect of the task, which helps the reader follow the narrative easily. You have used appropriate cohesive devices such as 'In addition', 'As a result', and 'Although', which link your sentences effectively. The paragraphing is logical and contributes to the overall clarity of the message. The flow is smooth, and the structure is consistent with standard formal correspondence.

Lexical Resource — Band 7.0

You demonstrate a sufficient range of vocabulary to convey your message clearly and professionally. Phrases like 'arrange a replacement' and 'faulty product' are well-chosen for this context. However, there are minor errors, such as 'recevied' (spelling) and 'greatful' (spelling), and a slight collocation error in 'required suitable winter clothing' (should be 'require'). Despite these minor slips, the vocabulary is adequate for the task and allows for precise communication of the issues.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 6.5

You use a mix of simple and complex sentence structures effectively. While the majority of your sentences are clear, there are a few grammatical inaccuracies, such as 'Although, it looks same' (should be 'Although it looks the same') and 'one of the button is missing' (should be 'one of the buttons is missing'). Additionally, there are some tense inconsistencies, such as 'if you required' (should be 'if you require'). These errors do not impede communication, but they prevent the response from reaching the highest band for accuracy.

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

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