Band 7.0 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 7.0 · Cambridge IELTS 17 · 2026-08-18

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 complain about some clothing that i recently purchased from your online store. I would like to request a replacement as soon as possible.

I ordered a black formal dress and a matching blazer from your website on 12 august. My order number is 45782, and the package was delivered to me three days ago. Unfortunately, i was disappointed with the purchase because the dress was damaged and had a large tear near the sleeve. Moreover, the blazer was the wrong size, although i had clearly mention the size while placing the order.

I would appreciate it if you could replace both items urgently. I need these clothes for an important family function next week, and i do not have enough time to purchase suitable replacement from another store. Therefore, I would be grateful if you could arrange the replacement within the next few days.

I look forward to receiving your prompt response and a satisfactory solution.

yours faithfully

Nitisha

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 7.5

The response successfully addresses all three bullet points of the prompt. You clearly provided the purchase details (order number and date), described the specific problems with the items (a tear in the dress and incorrect size for the blazer), and explained the urgency regarding the family function. The tone is appropriate for a formal complaint letter, and the purpose is clear from the beginning. All parts of the task are well-covered, and the ideas are developed sufficiently to meet the requirements of the task.

Coherence and Cohesion — Band 7.5

The letter is logically organized with a clear progression of ideas. Each paragraph serves a distinct purpose: the introduction states the purpose, the body paragraphs detail the issues and the urgency, and the conclusion provides a closing statement. Cohesive devices such as 'Unfortunately', 'Moreover', and 'Therefore' are used effectively to link sentences and ideas. The paragraphing is appropriate, and the flow of information is smooth, making the letter easy to follow throughout.

Lexical Resource — Band 6.5

You demonstrate a sufficient range of vocabulary to convey your message clearly. Phrases like 'prompt response', 'satisfactory solution', and 'matching blazer' are used correctly. While the vocabulary is functional and appropriate for the task, it lacks a wider range of less common or more sophisticated lexical items that would elevate the response to a higher band. However, there are no significant errors in word choice or collocation that impede communication.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 6.5

The response uses a mix of simple and complex sentence structures effectively. Most sentences are error-free; however, there are some minor mechanical errors, such as the failure to capitalize 'i' in several instances and the lowercase 's' in 'sir' and 'madam'. Additionally, there is a minor tense error in 'had clearly mention' (should be 'had clearly mentioned'). Despite these slips, the grammar is generally accurate, and the meaning is never obscured.

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

Browse more IELTS Writing model answers or get your own writing scored by the same AI examiner.