Band 7.0 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 7.0 · Cambridge IELTS 17 · 2026-09-17

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 or Madam,

I am writing to express my dissatisfying online shopping experience with you. After a strong recommendation from one of my friends, I ordered a jacket online from your website on 21st June. I carefully checked all the descriptions under the picture of that particular jacket and compared it with my body measurements before purchasing.

However, upon the parcel's arrival on 27th June, the size did not fit me. As per the description it was a medium in size but I received what may be a small. Because for all other clothing, a medium size fits me perfectly. I felt really disappointed because it was my first purchage for this winter and I was super excited to wear it in college.

It is unwearable to me and a complete waste if it is kept at home. I would appreciate if it can be replaced. My classes are starting within 15 days and I have not bought any other winter clothes. So, please provide me the information on a return application and send me replacement for a bigger size as soon as possible.

I look forward to your prompt response and action to resolve this problem.

Yours sincerely,

Rahul

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 8.0

The candidate has successfully covered all parts of the task prompt. The letter opens with the required details of the purchase, including the date of order (21st June) and the specific item bought. The problem is clearly described, explaining how the jacket received did not match the expected size medium despite careful measurement checks prior to ordering. Furthermore, the urgency of the replacement is justified effectively by stating that college classes are starting within 15 days and the writer possesses no other winter clothing. The tone is appropriate for a formal complaint letter, and all bullet points are well-developed and fully addressed, earning a solid band score for this criterion.

Coherence and Cohesion — Band 7.0

The letter exhibits clear logical organisation and progression throughout. Ideas are grouped sensibly into paragraphs, with an opening introductory sentence, followed by specific details of the purchase, the problem description, the reasoning for urgency, and a polite closing. Cohesive devices such as 'However', 'Because', and 'So' are used appropriately to link ideas, although some transitions are slightly conversational. Paragraphing is used effectively, with distinct indentation or spacing separating each main point. Referencing throughout the text is clear, ensuring the reader can effortlessly follow the narrative from the initial complaint to the requested resolution. Overall, the structural flow meets the criteria for a high band score.

Lexical Resource — Band 6.5

The student demonstrates an adequate to good range of vocabulary suitable for a formal complaint. Phrases like 'express my dissatisfying online shopping experience', 'body measurements', and 'prompt response' show a good grasp of functional English. However, there are minor lexical inaccuracies, such as 'dissatisfying' instead of 'dissatisfied', and 'purchage' which is a spelling error. The writer attempts some less common vocabulary items with general success, though occasional word choice limitations prevent it from reaching a higher band. Communication is never impeded by these lexical slips, and the tone remains consistently formal and polite throughout the correspondence.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 7.0

The writer uses a good mix of simple and complex sentence structures, such as conditional and subordinate clauses ('After a strong recommendation from one of my friends, I ordered...', 'As per the description it was a medium...'). There are frequent error-free sentences, demonstrating decent grammatical control. Minor errors are present, such as missing commas or slight awkwardness in phrasing ('It is unwearable to me and a complete waste if it is kept at home'), but these errors rarely impede communication and do not obscure the intended meaning. The punctuation and general sentence construction are sufficiently controlled to comfortably satisfy this band level.

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

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