Band 7.5 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer

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

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 manager,

Hope you are doing well. Last week, I visited your online store because I needed some shirts for my new job. I selected some items according to my needs: two white shirts, and my size is medium.

The parcel was delivered to my home after 5 working days. I was so excited to open the box; unfortunately, when I wore them, they were too loose. In disappointment, I checked the size tag right behind the collar; it made me sad because instead of sending a medium size, I received a large.

After that, I contacted the customer service department, and they told me that a trainee employee made a mistake and asked me to return the parcel as soon as possible for a replacement. I returned it on the same day at my own expense. I need a replacement order urgently within three days because I am joining my new job the very next day. It's my first day, and I don't like to wear improper clothes. Please also return my courier charges. Thanks in advance

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 8.0

You have successfully addressed all three bullet points in the prompt. You provided details of the purchase (two white shirts, medium size), described the problem (received large instead of medium), and explained the urgency of the replacement (starting a new job). 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 beginning. You have fulfilled all requirements of the task effectively.

Coherence and Cohesion — Band 7.5

The letter is logically organized with a clear progression of ideas. You use cohesive devices such as 'after that', 'because', and 'unfortunately' to link your sentences and paragraphs. The paragraphing is logical, moving from the purchase details to the problem and finally the requested action. While the transition between the second and third paragraph could be slightly more sophisticated, the overall flow is smooth and easy to follow throughout the response.

Lexical Resource — Band 7.0

You demonstrate an adequate range of vocabulary for this task. Phrases like 'customer service department' and 'at my own expense' are used correctly. There are some slightly informal choices, such as 'made me sad' or 'I don't like to wear', which could be elevated to sound more professional. However, the vocabulary is sufficient to convey your meaning clearly and accurately without any significant errors in word choice or collocation that would impede the reader's understanding.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 7.5

You use a mix of simple and complex sentence structures effectively. Most of your sentences are error-free, and your control of punctuation is generally good. There are minor slips, such as 'I don't like to wear' instead of 'I would prefer not to wear' or 'I don't want to wear'. These are minor and do not affect communication. Your use of tenses is consistent, and the overall grammatical accuracy is high, supporting the clarity of your message.

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

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