Band 7.0 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 7.0 · Cambridge IELTS 17 · 2026-08-31

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,

I am writing to you about my online shopping experience and my dissatisfaction with the purchase of the outfits. I have had a great experience with your website for two years because I always prefer to select my clothes from your site. I have found your online page to be totally reliable for shopping without facing any problems.

Last week, I bought a cord set from your site. When I looked at the measurements, they totally matched my size. I ordered a small size. It was properly mentioned there; it is true to size. So, I did not think twice about making payment.

Today, the order was delivered by FedEx. I opened my parcel with full excitement, but when I tried my outfit, I was not satisfied with the length and size. You delivered size L instead of S. I have to exchange this cord set urgently. I will wear it to my office meeting next week.

I request that you replace it and send a new one in my exact size.

Regards,

Aman.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 8.0

The response successfully addresses all three bullet points of the task. You clearly provided details of the purchase (a cord set), described the problem (incorrect size delivered), and explained the urgency (an upcoming office meeting). The tone is appropriate for a formal complaint letter. The ideas are well-developed and the purpose of the letter is clear from the outset. You have followed the instructions regarding the opening salutation and the overall structure is logical and relevant to the prompt.

Coherence and Cohesion — Band 7.0

The letter is logically organized, with each paragraph focusing on a specific aspect of the task. The progression of ideas is smooth, moving from the background of your shopping history to the specific issue and the requested resolution. You use some cohesive devices, such as 'Last week' and 'Today', to sequence events effectively. However, the use of linking words could be slightly more varied to improve the flow between sentences. Overall, the paragraphing is appropriate and the message is easy to follow.

Lexical Resource — Band 6.0

You demonstrate an adequate range of vocabulary for the task, using terms like 'dissatisfaction', 'reliable', and 'delivered'. While the vocabulary is functional and clear, it is somewhat basic. To reach a higher band, you could incorporate more precise collocations or less common vocabulary related to retail and customer service. For instance, instead of 'I did not think twice', you could use 'I proceeded with confidence'. The word choice is accurate and does not impede communication, but it lacks the sophistication required for higher bands.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 7.0

You use a mix of simple and complex sentence structures, and the majority of your sentences are error-free. There are minor issues, such as the phrasing 'my online shopping experience and my dissatisfaction with the purchase of the outfits' which is slightly wordy. Additionally, 'I have had a great experience... for two years' is grammatically correct but could be more concisely expressed. Punctuation is generally accurate, and your control over verb tenses is consistent. The grammar is sufficient to convey your message clearly without any confusion.

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

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