Band 7.5 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 7.5 · Cambridge IELTS 17 · 2026-10-29

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 7.5)

Dear Sir or Madam,

I am writing regarding the unsatisfactory experience with the clothes I purchased online, and I request that you replace them urgently.

Last week, on 20 October, I purchased a beautiful red dress and a black bottom for my birthday from your store via Amazon. It cost me around 260$ including shipping charges. According to the order, the dress should be XL and made of high-quality fabric.

However, I was disappointed after delivery. When I opened the package, the size was XXL, which is larger than I usually wear, and the black fabric at the bottom had a hole. This is unexpected; I was supposed to receive the items in good condition.

I want to replace that dress as soon as possible because my birthday is coming next week. I would appreciate it if you could deliver a dark-coloured dress, as my birthday decoration is light. So, it will suit the contrast.

I look forward to hearing from you promptly.

Regards,

Mamta

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response: Band 8.0

The letter covers all three required points clearly. You identify the purchase as a red dress and black item bought through Amazon on 20 October, give the approximate cost, and explain both defects: the dress is the wrong size and the other item has a hole. You also make the urgency clear by linking the replacement to your birthday next week. The request for a dark-coloured dress adds a useful preference. These details make the purpose and desired outcome easy to understand, and the ideas are developed well for a complaint letter. To strengthen the response further, clarify whether you want both items replaced or only the dress, since the problem concerns both garments but the urgent request refers mainly to the dress. The birthday-decoration explanation could also be made more directly relevant to the replacement request.

Coherence and Cohesion: Band 7.5

The letter follows a clear, appropriate sequence: purpose, purchase details, problems, urgent request, and closing. Paragraphing helps separate these stages, and transitions such as “However” and “When I opened the package” guide the reader through the account. The progression is easy to follow, with the birthday deadline placed where it supports the request. Some links between ideas could be more precise. For example, “So, it will suit the contrast” leaves the reference of “it” unclear, and the shift from describing two faulty items to requesting replacement of “that dress” makes the scope of the request less cohesive. State explicitly which items should be replaced and connect the colour preference directly to that request. Overall, organisation is strong, though a few references and links could be more carefully managed.

Lexical Resource: Band 6.5

You use an adequate range of vocabulary for a formal complaint, including “unsatisfactory experience,” “high-quality fabric,” “in good condition,” and “deliver.” These choices communicate the situation clearly, and the tone is generally suitable. There are also attempts at more specific description, such as “dark-coloured” and “light” decorations. However, some word choices and collocations are imprecise: “a black bottom” is unclear for a clothing item, “the black fabric at the bottom” may not identify the garment, and “suit the contrast” is not a natural way to express the colour preference. “Beautiful” is also less useful than a precise description in this context. More accurate clothing terms and complaint-related phrases would improve precision and show greater control of collocation while preserving the clear meaning.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy: Band 7.0

The letter includes a useful mix of sentence forms, including the complex sentence “I would appreciate it if you could deliver a dark-coloured dress” and the conditional structure “According to the order, the dress should be XL.” Most sentences are clear, and the reader can follow the complaint without difficulty. A few grammatical and punctuation issues remain. In “It cost me around 260$,” the currency symbol should precede the amount; “This is unexpected; I was supposed to receive…” uses a semicolon where a full stop or conjunction would be more natural. The sentence “So, it will suit the contrast” also has an unclear pronoun reference. Continue using varied structures, while checking punctuation and ensuring pronouns clearly refer to the intended item. These refinements would make the otherwise controlled grammar more consistent.

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