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/Madam,

I hope you are doing well.

I am writing to express you my dissatisfaction with my recent online purchase from your website.

Last week, I ordered a red floral dress on 10 August 2026. I was very excited to receive it as I decided to wear it on my anniversary.

Upon arrival, I noticed that it has several stains. As I had been looking forward to receiving this dress. I was extremely disappointed to find it in such poor condition.

In addition, I will return it back to you tomorrow from the post office near by my house.

I would really appreciate it if you could replace it with a new one or give me a full refund.

Furthermore, if you are going to replace it please send it before 24 August because our celebration on 25 August.

I will look forward to receiving your message and suitable solution for me.

Yours faithfully,

Rajvir

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 8.0

The letter covers all three bullet points required by the prompt: purchase details, the nature of the problem, and the urgency of the replacement. The tone is appropriate for a formal complaint. The ideas are clearly presented, and the purpose of the letter is immediately obvious to the reader. The response is well-structured and addresses the requirements effectively, ensuring the reader understands both the issue and the desired outcome.

Coherence and Cohesion — Band 8.0

The letter is logically organized, with a clear introduction, body, and conclusion. Paragraphing is used appropriately to separate the problem from the request for action. Cohesive devices such as 'In addition', 'Furthermore', and 'Upon arrival' are used to guide the reader through the text. The flow of ideas is smooth, and the letter maintains a consistent focus throughout, making it easy to follow.

Lexical Resource — Band 6.5

The vocabulary is sufficient for the task and conveys the message clearly. While the range is adequate, it is somewhat standard. Phrases like 'express you my dissatisfaction' are slightly unnatural; 'express my dissatisfaction to you' would be more accurate. There are no significant errors that impede communication, but the use of more sophisticated or precise vocabulary would elevate the response to a higher band.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 6.5

The letter uses a mix of simple and complex sentence structures. There are a few grammatical slips, such as 'return it back' (redundant) and 'because our celebration on 25 August' (missing a verb, e.g., 'is on'). However, these errors are minor and do not hinder the reader's understanding. The punctuation is generally correct, and the overall control of grammar is good for this level.

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

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