Band 7.5 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 7.5 · 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 7.5)

Dear Sir or Madam,

I am writing to request the replacement of an item I purchased from your online store. I am extremely disappointed with the way my order was handled.

I placed an order for item number 1786 through your website on 14 August 2026. It was a medium-sized navy blue T-shirt from the "Aizel" collection. Shortly afterwards, I received an order confirmation by email.

Unfortunately, when I received the parcel a week later, it contained a completely different item. I tried to return it through the courier service, but they refused to accept the opened parcel. I also attempted to contact your customer service team by telephone; however, I was unable to reach them.

I would appreciate it if you could arrange an immediate replacement for the item I originally ordered. If this is not possible, I would like to request a full 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 7.5

The response fully addresses all three bullet points required by the task. You clearly provided the purchase details (order number, date, and item description), described the problem (incorrect item received, courier issues, and failed communication), and explained the need for a replacement. The tone is appropriate for a formal complaint letter, and the purpose is clear from the outset. The ideas are well-developed and the response is logically structured, meeting all requirements of the prompt effectively.

Coherence and Cohesion — Band 7.5

The letter is well-organized with a clear progression of ideas. Each paragraph serves a distinct purpose, moving logically from the introduction to the details of the purchase, the problem, and finally the requested resolution. Cohesive devices such as 'Unfortunately', 'however', and 'If this is not possible' are used naturally to link sentences and ideas. The paragraphing is appropriate for a formal letter, and the flow of information is smooth throughout the text, making it very easy to follow.

Lexical Resource — Band 6.5

You demonstrate a good range of vocabulary suitable for a formal complaint. Phrases like 'extremely disappointed', 'order confirmation', and 'at your earliest convenience' are used accurately and appropriately. The language is precise and conveys the intended meaning without ambiguity. While the vocabulary is functional and correct, it stays within a standard range; incorporating a few more sophisticated collocations or nuanced expressions could elevate the score further, but the current usage is entirely sufficient for the task.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 7.5

The grammar is highly accurate, with a variety of sentence structures used correctly. You successfully employ complex sentences, such as 'I would appreciate it if you could arrange an immediate replacement for the item I originally ordered.' Punctuation is used correctly throughout, and there are no noticeable grammatical errors. The control over tense and structure is consistent, and the writing is error-free, which reflects a high level of grammatical competence.

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