Band 7.0 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer

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

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 this letter, to inform you about the purchase which I made and I am not satisfied with it.

Last week, I have ordered one oversized tshirt from your website, which I was planning to buy from a long time but I was waiting for the time when it goes on sale. Finally, that happened and I made an order, which got delivered after 5 days. My order number is [redacted phone].

I have tried that tshirt and it fits me well, but the problem is it has a small stain at the backside of it which is easily visible to anyone. Although, I have washed it few times but it is not going.

As per your policy, the tag should be on the item if you want to return it, I did not remove it from my tshirt. I am planning to wear this tshirt on my girlfriend's birthday which is next week.

This tshirt has been chosen by her, and I did not want to hurt her by not wearing it on her birthday. Therefore, I have already made a request to get a replacement with the hope of getting it before next week.

I hope you understand my situation. Looking forward for a replacement.

Thank you.

Abhi Patel

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response: Band 7.5

The letter clearly addresses all three requirements: it identifies the purchase and order number, explains that the shirt has a visible stain, and gives a reason for needing a replacement before the birthday next week. The detail that the tag remains attached also supports your request. Your purpose is clear throughout, and the personal context makes the urgency understandable. To make the response more fully developed, state the action you want the company to take more explicitly—for example, request a replacement shirt and ask them to confirm whether it can arrive before the event. The closing sentence, “Looking forward for a replacement,” signals this, but a direct, courteous request would make the outcome unmistakable.

Coherence and Cohesion: Band 7.0

The information follows a clear sequence: you introduce the complaint, give the purchase details, describe the defect, and explain the urgency. Paragraphing helps separate these stages, and links such as “Although,” “Therefore,” and “As per your policy” guide the reader through the explanation. The progression is easy to follow, though some connections could be smoother. For instance, the sentence about the tag moves quickly from the return policy to the birthday, and the final request could be integrated more clearly with that explanation. Use a more direct transition to show that the attached tag means the item remains eligible for exchange, then finish with a specific request and expected timeframe.

Lexical Resource: Band 6.0

Your vocabulary is adequate for a complaint letter and communicates the key facts clearly, using relevant terms such as “order number,” “stain,” “replacement,” and “policy.” You also convey the personal importance of the occasion. However, some expressions are imprecise or unnatural, including “made an order,” “it is not going,” and “hurt her by not wearing it.” The repeated use of “tshirt” also limits variety; “shirt” or “item” would be suitable alternatives. Aim for more precise customer-service language, such as describing the stain as “has not come out” and asking the company to “dispatch a replacement.” These refinements would make the tone more polished and formal.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy: Band 6.5

You use a mix of simple and complex sentence forms, including a relative clause in “which got delivered after 5 days” and a conditional structure in “if you want to return it.” Meaning remains clear, but some grammatical errors persist. In “I am writing this letter, to inform you,” the comma is unnecessary; “Last week, I have ordered” uses an unsuitable tense, and “I have washed it few times” is missing an article. The sentence beginning “Although, I have washed it…” is also not correctly connected to the preceding idea. Review tense choice for completed past events, article use, and punctuation around subordinate clauses. More consistently accurate control would strengthen the otherwise understandable letter.

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