Band 7.0 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 7.0 · Cambridge IELTS 17 · 2026-10-09

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 7.0)

Dear Sir or Madam,

I am writing this letter to express my dissatisfaction regarding the purchase i did online on your website.

I purhcased a red coloured shirt from your online shopping platform last week. The order number is [redacted phone] and I paid 70 dollars in advance to avoid any last minute hassle. It was delivered inside two days as I have the prime membership of your platform.

I was quite disappointed when I opened the package. First of all, the colour was different than what I selected online. Moreover, the quality of the fabric was substandard and stiches was loose at some places. This turned my excitement into disappointment.

I humbly request you to replace it with the proper colour and quality by tomorrow. I have to attend an urgent function where red coloured shirt is a dress code, and I have to leave by day after tomorrow for the event.

I will appreciate your kind attention to this matter.

Warm regards,

Amitoz Sing

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response: Band 7.5

The letter clearly addresses all three requirements. You identify the purchase with useful details—“a red coloured shirt,” order number 789234, the price, and delivery—and explain both problems: the colour differs from the selection and the fabric is poor, with loose stitching. Your request for replacement is clear, and the function’s dress code and departure date explain the urgency. These relevant details make the purpose easy to understand and support the request. To develop the response further, specify what action you expect if delivery by tomorrow is not possible, such as an expedited replacement or a refund. Overall, the task is handled clearly, with the main ideas supported by appropriate details.

Coherence and Cohesion: Band 7.0

The letter follows a clear progression: purpose, purchase details, problems, urgent replacement request, and closing. Paragraphing helps the reader distinguish these stages, while “First of all” and “Moreover” connect the two complaints effectively. The sequence from the purchase to the event deadline is logical and easy to follow. Some linking is slightly mechanical, and the final request could connect more smoothly to the explanation of urgency. For example, combine the deadline and the requested action in one sentence, then add a brief closing sentence about how the company can contact you or confirm dispatch. This would make the cohesion more flexible while preserving the clear organisation already present.

Lexical Resource: Band 6.0

You use an adequate range of vocabulary for a complaint letter, including “dissatisfaction,” “substandard,” “replace,” and “dress code.” These choices communicate the issue and the urgency clearly. However, some expressions are imprecise or unnatural for this context: “the purchase i did online” and “delivered inside two days” do not sound idiomatic, while “proper colour and quality” is vague. There are also spelling errors in “purhcased” and “stiches,” and “red coloured” is less concise than “red.” Aim for accurate, natural collocations and check spelling carefully. More precise wording would make the complaint sound more professional without requiring unusually advanced vocabulary.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy: Band 6.5

The letter includes a mix of simple and more developed sentence forms, such as the sentence beginning “I was quite disappointed when I opened the package” and the explanation of the event deadline. Meaning remains clear throughout, and several sentences are controlled accurately. Some grammatical errors remain: “the purchase i did online” has an incorrect verb construction, “the quality … was substandard and stiches was loose” has faulty agreement, and “I have to leave by day after tomorrow” needs an article or a different time expression. Capitalise “I” consistently. To strengthen accuracy, review subject–verb agreement and article use, and practise combining clauses while checking each sentence’s verb forms and punctuation.

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

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