Band 7.0 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 7.0 · Cambridge IELTS 17 · 2026-08-20

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 express my dissatisfaction with the purchase that I have recently made from your online platform.

I purchased a multicolor long dress for my vacation next week. My order number was 965 and it was a medium sized dress with a white belt for the fitting. I received my order yesterday and I am so disappointed with this purchase.

The fabric of the dress is low quality with a broken belt strap. Moreover, It is not even my size, I ordered medium size but received the large one. Also, color of the attire looks so dull with naked eyes as compared to photos from where I decided to buy.

I need a replacement as soon as possible because my flight is next week and I do not have enough time to buy another dress as I need to pack luggage for my child as well. I hope you will understand my concern.

Thank you and I will look forward for your response.

Best regards,

Mandeep

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 8.0

You have successfully addressed all three bullet points in the prompt. You provided the purchase details (order number 965), described the specific problems (fabric quality, broken strap, incorrect size, and dull color), and explained the urgency regarding your upcoming vacation. The tone is appropriate for a formal complaint letter. The ideas are well-developed and clear, ensuring the reader understands exactly what went wrong and what is required. To reach a higher band, you could provide a more explicit 'call to action' at the end, such as requesting a specific refund or exchange process, but the current response is fully sufficient for the task requirements.

Coherence and Cohesion — Band 7.0

The letter is logically organized with a clear introduction, body paragraphs for the issues and the reason for urgency, and a polite closing. Each paragraph focuses on a single topic, which helps the reader follow your argument easily. You use some cohesive devices like 'Moreover' and 'Also' to link ideas. However, the transition between the description of the problems and the urgency could be smoother. To improve, try using more varied linking words or phrases to connect your sentences, such as 'Consequently' or 'Given these circumstances', rather than relying on simple conjunctions at the start of sentences.

Lexical Resource — Band 6.5

You have a sufficient range of vocabulary to convey your message clearly. Phrases like 'express my dissatisfaction' and 'online platform' are appropriate for a formal letter. There are some minor collocation issues, such as 'dull with naked eyes' (better: 'dull to the naked eye') and 'pack luggage' (better: 'pack my bags'). While the vocabulary is functional and accurate, it lacks the more sophisticated or precise collocations that would characterize a higher band. Focusing on natural word pairings will help elevate your writing style.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 7.0

You demonstrate a good mix of simple and complex sentence structures. Most of your sentences are clear and error-free. There are a few minor grammatical slips, such as 'I will look forward for your response' (should be 'look forward to') and 'color of the attire' (missing the article 'the'). Additionally, 'It is not even my size' should be 'It is not even the right size'. Despite these small errors, your meaning is never obscured, and the grammar is generally reliable throughout the text.

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

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