Band 7.0 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 7.0 · Cambridge IELTS 17 · 2026-10-21

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,

I am writing this letter to express my dissatisfaction about a dress which I have purchased from your website.

Last week, I have ordered a floral printed satin dress in pink colour from your website to wear it on my convocation ceremony.

Unfortuantely, when I had received the dress and tried it on, I discovered that I have ordered a wrong size. This dress is very loose on me. I usually order clothes in small size from your website which fits me well, however this is not the case for this dress. Secondly, the colour of the dress is very different from the colour which was shown in the advertisement. Moreover, I have not liked the quality of the fabric either.

However, I urgently need a dress for my ceremony. Therefore, could you please replace this dress with a dress in extra small size at your earlier convenience. I would be very grateful to you. Thankyou for your time.

Best regards,

Iqbal

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response: Band 7.5

The letter addresses all three required points and maintains a clear, polite purpose. You identify the purchase as a pink floral satin dress ordered for your convocation, explain that it is too loose and differs in colour and fabric quality from the advertisement, and request an extra-small replacement because the ceremony is approaching. These details make the complaint specific and relevant. The urgency is stated, but could be developed more clearly by giving the ceremony date or explaining why there is little time to find another outfit. Also, the requested remedy could be more precise about how the company should arrange the exchange. Overall, the task is covered effectively, with a little room to extend the practical details.

Coherence and Cohesion: Band 7.0

The information follows a sensible sequence: purpose, purchase details, problems, and requested action. Paragraphing separates the opening from the explanation and closing, while connectors such as “Secondly,” “Moreover,” and “Therefore” help show how the points relate. The progression is easy to follow, and the reader can understand why you are contacting the company. However, “However” at the start of the urgency paragraph does not express a clear contrast with the preceding sentence, and the repeated use of “your website” and “dress” makes some links feel mechanical. A more deliberate paragraph break before the request, along with varied referencing such as “the item” or “this garment,” would make the organisation more polished.

Lexical Resource: Band 6.0

You use enough vocabulary to communicate the purchase and complaint clearly, including “floral printed satin,” “convocation ceremony,” “advertisement,” and “fabric.” The tone is generally appropriate for a formal customer-service letter. However, some word choices and collocations are inaccurate or unnatural, such as “dissatisfaction about,” “ordered a wrong size,” and “at your earlier convenience.” There is also a spelling error in “Unfortuantely,” and “Thankyou” should be written as two words. These slips do not prevent understanding, but they limit precision and naturalness. Aim to learn common complaint-letter phrases as complete expressions and check spelling and collocation before submitting.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy: Band 6.5

The letter includes both simple statements and more complex sentences, for example the sentence beginning “I usually order clothes in small size,” which combines a main clause with a relative clause. Meaning remains clear throughout, and several sentences are controlled. Some errors in tense and article use remain: “Last week, I have ordered” would normally be “Last week, I ordered,” while “when I had received the dress” is better expressed as “when I received the dress.” In “a wrong size,” the article is not appropriate in this construction, and “in small size” needs an article or plural form. The sentence structures show some range, but more consistent control of past-tense forms and noun phrases would strengthen accuracy.

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