Band 7.5 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 7.5 · Cambridge IELTS 17 · 2026-08-28

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,

I am writing to request a replacement of the clothes I purchased online from your website.

I bought three plain formal shirts of color white, black and blue with two trousers of black color. The shirts I ordered were full sleeves without any designs on it.

However, the delivery company has delivered two half-sleeves shirts with floral print on it and two shorts instead. I assumed that the sales team or delivery company has interchanged my parcel with some other customer.

Next month, I am going to attend an important business trip to New York, that is why I placed a order and paid extra for fast delivery. I would appreciate it if you could arrange a pick up and deliver the correct parcel on a priority base. Please let me know if you want any additional information or receipt of the order I placed.

I look forward to your prompt response.

Yours faithfully,

Parvinderjeet

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 8.0

The response successfully addresses all three bullet points of the prompt. You clearly provided details of the purchase, described the specific errors in the items received, and explained the urgency of the situation regarding your business trip. The tone is appropriate for a formal letter of complaint. The ideas are well-developed and the purpose of the letter is clear from the outset. You have maintained a consistent and professional tone throughout, which is essential for this task type.

Coherence and Cohesion — Band 8.0

The letter is logically organized with a clear progression of ideas. Each paragraph serves a distinct purpose, moving from the statement of the problem to the details and finally the requested action. You have used appropriate paragraphing and cohesive devices such as 'However', 'that is why', and 'I would appreciate it if'. The flow is natural and easy to follow, making the communication effective. The structure is well-managed and supports the overall message without any confusion.

Lexical Resource — Band 7.0

You have used a sufficient range of vocabulary to convey your message clearly. While the vocabulary is functional and accurate, it is somewhat standard. Phrases like 'interchanged my parcel' and 'on a priority base' are understandable but could be more idiomatic. To reach a higher band, you could incorporate more precise collocations related to retail and customer service. There are no significant errors in word choice that impede meaning, and the language used is appropriate for the context of a formal complaint.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 7.0

The letter demonstrates a good control of grammar with a mix of simple and complex sentence structures. There are a few minor errors, such as 'a order' (should be 'an order') and 'on a priority base' (more naturally 'on a priority basis'). Despite these minor slips, the majority of your sentences are error-free, and your meaning is always clear. The punctuation is generally accurate, and the sentence variety is sufficient to maintain the reader's interest throughout the letter.

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

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