Band 7.0 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 7.0 · Cambridge IELTS 17 · 2026-10-20

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 dissatisfaction with the purchase I made from your website last weekend.

To begin with, I wanted to buy a traditional outfit as a birthday gift for my friend. After spending hours I finally decided to place an order for a purple lehenga choli. However, when I opened the package the colour of the dress was not same as shown on the image. I was dissappointed to receive the violet coloured outfit because it was completely different from what I had expected. Therefore, I request that you replace this item with what I have ordered, as purple is her favourite colour. I have to wrap this outfit as a birthday present for my friend next wednesday. I would be grateful if you could deliver my order at your earliest convenience. Lastly, my order number is AP[redacted phone] and I have also attached the receipt of my payment for your reference. Kindly let me know if you have any additional questions.

I look forward to your prompt response regarding this matter.

Thank you for your time and assistance.

Yours faithfully,

Payal Bhakta

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response: Band 7.5

The letter clearly addresses all three requirements: it identifies the purchase as a purple lehenga choli, explains that the delivered violet item differs from the website image, and requests a replacement in time for your friend’s birthday next Wednesday. The order number and mention of the attached receipt also make the complaint practical and specific. Your purpose remains clear throughout, and the request is supported by the explanation that purple is your friend’s favourite colour. To make the response more fully developed, specify the purchase date or delivery details and state explicitly that the replacement must arrive before the birthday. The urgency is understandable, but the exact deadline is left implicit in “at your earliest convenience.”

Coherence and Cohesion: Band 7.0

The letter follows a clear progression from the reason for writing, to the purchase and problem, then the requested remedy and supporting details. Paragraphing separates the main complaint from the closing, while phrases such as “To begin with,” “Therefore,” and “Lastly” help signal the sequence. The reader can follow the request without difficulty. However, the body is presented as one long paragraph, and some transitions feel formulaic rather than fully natural. Consider dividing the purchase and problem from the urgency and administrative details, and use more direct links between ideas—for example, connect the birthday deadline immediately to the request for expedited delivery. This would make the organisation more polished while preserving its clear progression.

Lexical Resource: Band 6.5

You use an adequate range of vocabulary for a formal complaint, including “express my dissatisfaction,” “place an order,” “replace this item,” and “prompt response.” These choices communicate the issue clearly, and the clothing-specific terms make the purchase precise. There are also some less natural or inaccurate choices: “the colour … was not same as shown on the image” is awkward, and “dissappointed” is misspelled. “Violet coloured outfit” is understandable, but the contrast between violet and purple could be expressed more precisely as a colour mismatch. To strengthen your range, use more natural complaint collocations and check spelling carefully; this would add precision and control without changing the clear meaning.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy: Band 7.0

The letter includes a useful mix of sentence forms, including the complex time clause “when I opened the package” and the conditional request “I would be grateful if you could deliver my order.” Many sentences are accurate and easy to understand, and punctuation is generally controlled. A few grammatical slips remain: “was not same” needs an article (“was not the same”), and “After spending hours I finally decided” would be clearer with a comma after the introductory phrase. The sentence beginning “Therefore” also combines the replacement request and its reason in a slightly crowded way. Review article use and punctuation around introductory clauses, and vary sentence structure a little more to make the letter smoother and more consistently accurate.

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