Band 8.0 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 8.0 · 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 8.0)

Dear Sir or Madam,

My name is Adam Gilbert and my customer ID is 34343. I recently purchased a shirt from your website. The order ID for this purchase is 35321.

I am very disappointed with the quality of the shirt that you have sent. The fabric of the shirt seems to be of very low quality, giving it a very cheap look. It was mentioned on the website that the fabric is 100% linen, but this seems to be some low quality fabric, which makes me think if you have shipped the wrong article or is the same shirt that I ordered. Apart from that, there is a button missing on the shirt, which is extremely disconcerting. I have been a very avid buyer of your e-commerce portal and an extremely loyal customer. This experience breaks my trust in your brand.

I have an upcoming interview in 2 weeks and I bought this shirt specifically for the interview. Now, I do not have any suitable attire to wear that day. Therefore, I request you to urgently replace the shirt.

I would really appreciate if you could expedite the exchange process, so I can try the new garment on time. That would help in rebuilding the trust in your store.

Yours faithfully,

Adam Gilbert

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 8.0

The response fully addresses all three bullet points of the task. You provided the necessary purchase details (order ID and customer ID), clearly described the issues with the fabric quality and the missing button, and explained the urgency regarding your upcoming interview. The tone is appropriate for a formal complaint letter, and the purpose is clear throughout. The ideas are well-developed and the response maintains a consistent focus on the task requirements. No parts of the prompt were omitted, and the letter is well-structured to meet the needs of the recipient.

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 makes the letter easy to follow. You have used appropriate cohesive devices such as 'Apart from that', 'Therefore', and 'Now', which help link your ideas smoothly. The paragraphing is logical and contributes to the overall clarity of the message. The transition between the description of the problem and the request for a replacement is natural and effective, ensuring the reader understands the urgency of the situation.

Lexical Resource — Band 7.5

You demonstrate a good range of vocabulary appropriate for a formal complaint. Phrases like 'extremely disconcerting', 'avid buyer', and 'expedite the exchange process' show a good level of control and precision. While the vocabulary is generally accurate and fits the context well, there is room for slightly more sophisticated collocations to reach the highest band. For instance, 'low quality fabric' is repeated; using synonyms like 'inferior material' or 'substandard quality' would enhance the lexical variety. Overall, the language is natural and effectively conveys your dissatisfaction.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 7.5

The response displays a good mix of simple and complex sentence structures. Your grammar is generally accurate, and there are no significant errors that impede communication. You successfully used complex sentences, such as 'I would really appreciate if you could expedite the exchange process, so I can try the new garment on time.' There is a minor slip in the question structure: 'or is the same shirt that I ordered' should be 'or if it is the same shirt that I ordered'. However, these are rare and do not detract from the overall high quality of your writing.

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

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