Band 8.5 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 8.5 · Cambridge IELTS 17 · 2026-09-12

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 8.5)

Dear Sir or Madam,

I am writing to express my dissatisfaction with a recent purchase I made from your online store.

I placed the order on 28th August, order number *#UK-[redacted phone]*, for two items: a navy blue formal blazer, size M, and a pair of black slim-fit trousers, size 32. The total amount paid was £129.99, and the parcel was delivered on 2nd September via courier.

Unfortunately, upon opening the parcel I found two problems. Firstly, although the blazer is labelled as size M, it is significantly smaller than the standard size and the sleeves are much too short. Secondly, the trousers I received are not the slim-fit style I ordered, but a loose straight-cut style, and there is a visible defect - the stitching on the left seam is coming apart.

I would be grateful if you could arrange a replacement as a matter of urgency. I purchased this suit specifically to wear for an important job interview which is scheduled for 15th September, and I do not have a suitable alternative.

I would appreciate it if you could confirm that the correct items in the correct size will be dispatched by express delivery at no extra cost. I can return the incorrect items in their original packaging as soon as I receive the return label.

I look forward to hearing from you at your earliest convenience.

Yours faithfully,

Dharti Patel

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 9.0

The candidate fully covers all three bullet points of the prompt in a thorough and natural manner. For the first bullet point, the details of the purchase are precisely provided, including the exact date, order number, items, and total cost, such as "order number #UK-8847392" and "£129.99". For the second bullet point, the problems are vividly and specifically described, noting both the sizing issue on the blazer and the style discrepancy alongside the stitching defect on the trousers. For the final bullet point, the urgency is well-explained through the specific mention of an "important job interview" scheduled for "15th September". The register is consistently appropriate for a formal complaint letter. The response easily meets the highest bands for Task Achievement due to its comprehensive and fully developed coverage.

Coherence and Cohesion — Band 8.0

The letter exhibits clear logical organisation and a natural progression throughout. The response opens with a standard formal salutation and a clear statement of purpose, moves logically from purchase details to the specific product defects, explains the urgency and requested resolution, and concludes appropriately with a call to action and a standard sign-off ("Yours faithfully,"). Paragraphing is used effectively and purposefully to separate distinct ideas: the introduction, purchase details, description of problems, reason for urgency, requested action, and conclusion. Cohesive devices such as "Firstly", "Secondly", and "Unfortunately" are deployed naturally and accurately to guide the reader through the text without any mechanical feel.

Lexical Resource — Band 8.0

The vocabulary used is precise, natural, and well-suited to the context of a formal complaint. The candidate demonstrates a wide and flexible lexical resource with strong task-appropriate collocations such as "express dissatisfaction", "significantly smaller", "loose straight-cut style", and "matter of urgency". There are no noticeable spelling or word-choice errors, and less common phrasing is handled with complete accuracy. Words like "dispatched", "alternative", and "convenience" further elevate the register of the letter, reflecting a high level of lexical control.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 8.0

The writing features a wide range of complex grammatical structures used with a high degree of accuracy and control. Examples include relative clauses ("which is scheduled for 15th September"), conditional ideas, and well-structured compound-complex sentences such as "Unfortunately, upon opening the parcel I found two problems." Punctuation and tense usage are handled impeccably throughout the text. The vast majority of sentences are completely error-free, and any complex structures attempted are executed naturally and without error, fully justifying the band score.

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

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