Band 7.5 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 7.5 · Cambridge IELTS 17 · 2026-09-08

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 this letter to complain about the unsatisfactory shopping experience with your company. Last week, I placed an online order for a summer dress and matching hair accessories to pair with it.

As it was advertised that the dress is made of pure-cotton, I was quite disappointed when I found that it was made with polyester and cotton. Moreover, the embrodiery of the dress is not identical to the pictures which are shown on the website. Although the hair accessories are beautiful, I cannot use them as they do not complement the clothes because the colour of the dress is slightly different than what I ordered.

Since I need this outfit for an upcoming event, I would appreciate if you could arrange an urgent replacement. I originally purcahsed this clothing item because of its breathable fabric. Therefore, it is significantly important to replace this dress with the new one that is made of 100% cotton fabric. I have attached the receipt and the reference photo of my order for more details.

Looking forward to a favourable response from you.

Yours faithfully,

Jashanpreet kaur

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 issues with the fabric and embroidery, and explained the urgency regarding the upcoming event. The tone is appropriate for a formal letter of complaint, and the purpose is clear from the outset. The ideas are well-developed and logically presented, ensuring the reader understands exactly what went wrong and what action is required. You have fulfilled all requirements of the task effectively.

Coherence and Cohesion — Band 8.0

The letter is well-organized with a clear logical progression. Each paragraph focuses on a distinct aspect of the task, which helps the reader follow your argument easily. You use cohesive devices such as 'Moreover', 'Although', 'Since', and 'Therefore' to link your ideas effectively. The paragraphing is appropriate, and the flow of information is smooth. There is a clear sense of structure from the opening salutation to the closing sign-off, making the letter easy to read and professional in its presentation.

Lexical Resource — Band 7.0

You demonstrate a good range of vocabulary appropriate for a formal complaint, such as 'unsatisfactory', 'complement', 'favourable', and 'reference'. There are a few minor spelling errors, such as 'embrodiery' (embroidery) and 'purcahsed' (purchased), which are likely slips rather than a lack of knowledge. The word choices are generally precise and help convey your frustration clearly. To reach a higher band, you could incorporate more sophisticated collocations or idiomatic expressions suitable for formal correspondence, but the current range is sufficient to communicate your message with clarity and precision.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 7.5

The letter displays a good mix of simple and complex sentence structures. Most sentences are grammatically accurate and easy to follow. You successfully use complex structures, such as 'Although the hair accessories are beautiful, I cannot use them...' and 'I would appreciate if you could arrange...'. While there are minor errors, such as 'the pictures which are shown' (which could be simplified to 'the pictures shown') and 'the new one that is made' (which is slightly redundant), these do not impede communication. The control of punctuation and tense is generally strong throughout the text.

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

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