Band 7.0 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 7.0 · Cambridge IELTS 17 · 2026-08-21

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 request for the replacement of an article I purchased from your online clothing brand. I am extremely disappointed by the negligence at your end.

I placed my order for the article number 1786 through your website on 14th of August 2026. It was a navy blue t-shirt in medium size and under the article name "Aizel". After I placed my order, I received a confirmation message on my email and immediately replied to it.

Unfortunately, when I received the parcel a week later, it was a completely different article. I tried to return it through the courier service but they refused to take back an opened parcel. I tried to contact your team by telephone but it was powered off.

I need immediate replacement for this article and in case that is not possible, I need a refund.

Kindly resolve this matter at your earliest convenience.

I look forward to your response.

Kind Regards,

Ayesha Noor

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 6.5

The response successfully addresses all three bullet points of the task. You provided the purchase details (order number, date, item name), described the problem (wrong item received, failed return attempt), and explained the need for a replacement. The tone is appropriate for a formal complaint letter. To reach a higher band, you could have elaborated slightly more on why the replacement is needed 'urgently'—for example, mentioning a specific event or deadline—as the current explanation is quite brief. However, all requirements are met, and the purpose of the letter is clear throughout.

Coherence and Cohesion — Band 7.5

The letter is logically organized, with a clear progression from the purpose of the email to the details of the order, the problem, and the desired resolution. Paragraphing is used effectively to separate these distinct points. Cohesive devices such as 'Unfortunately', 'After I placed my order', and 'in case that is not possible' are used appropriately to link ideas. The flow is smooth, and the reader can easily follow the sequence of events. The structure is professional and fits the conventions of a formal business letter well.

Lexical Resource — Band 6.5

You have used a sufficient range of vocabulary to convey your message clearly. Phrases like 'at your earliest convenience' and 'negligence at your end' are appropriate for a formal complaint. There are no significant errors in word choice that impede communication. To improve, you could incorporate more precise collocations or slightly more sophisticated vocabulary to enhance the formal tone. For instance, instead of 'powered off', 'switched off' or 'unavailable' would be more natural in this context. Overall, the vocabulary is functional and accurate.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 6.5

The letter demonstrates a good mix of simple and complex sentence structures. Most sentences are error-free, and the grammar is generally accurate. There is a minor error in the first sentence: 'request for the replacement' should simply be 'request a replacement' (as 'request' is a transitive verb here). Additionally, 'negligence at your end' is grammatically acceptable but slightly informal. Punctuation is generally correct, and the tone remains consistent. The control of grammar is strong enough to ensure that the message is communicated without any ambiguity.

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