Band 7.5 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 7.5 · Cambridge IELTS 12 · 2026-08-04

IELTS Writing Task 1 question

You work at home and have a problem with a piece of equipment that you use for your job.

Write a letter to the shop or company which supplied the equipment. In your letter

• describe the problem with the equipment
• explain how this problem is affecting your work
• say what you want the shop or company to do

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 to complain about a printer that I bought from your company two months ago. I use this printer every day because I work from home.

Recently, the printer has started to stop working after printing only a few pages. Sometimes it also shows an error message, and I have to restart it many times. I have checked the paper and the ink, but the problem is still there.

This problem is affecting my work because I need to print important documents for my clients every day. As a result, I have missed some deadlines, and my work has become slower. It is causing me a lot of inconvenience.

I would be grateful if you could repair the printer as soon as possible. If it cannot be repaired, I would like you to replace it with a new one. I hope you will deal with this matter quickly.

I look forward to your reply.

Yours faithfully,

Zalak Sagar

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 8.0

The letter successfully addresses all three bullet points required by the prompt. You clearly describe the technical issues with the printer, explain the negative impact on your professional deadlines, and provide a clear request for a resolution (repair or replacement). The tone is appropriate for a formal letter of complaint, and the purpose is clear from the outset. The response is well-structured and covers all aspects of the task requirements effectively, ensuring the reader understands both the problem and the desired outcome.

Coherence and Cohesion — Band 8.0

The letter is logically organized, with a clear progression of ideas from the introduction of the problem to the proposed solution. Each paragraph focuses on a specific aspect of the task, which aids readability. You use basic cohesive devices such as 'As a result' and 'If it cannot be repaired' to link ideas effectively. The paragraphing is appropriate for a formal letter, and the flow of information is smooth throughout the text. The use of transitions is sufficient to maintain a clear and coherent argument.

Lexical Resource — Band 7.0

The vocabulary is accurate and appropriate for the context of a formal complaint. You use relevant terms such as 'inconvenience', 'deadlines', and 'error message'. While the range is adequate for the task, it remains somewhat functional and lacks a wider variety of less common or more sophisticated lexical items that would elevate the response to a higher band. However, there are no errors in word choice or collocation, and the language used is natural and precise enough to convey your message without any ambiguity.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 7.5

The grammar is generally accurate, with a good mix of simple and complex sentence structures. You demonstrate control over verb tenses, particularly in the use of the present perfect ('I have checked') and the conditional ('If it cannot be repaired'). Punctuation is used correctly throughout the letter. While the sentence structures are correct, they are relatively straightforward. To achieve a higher score, you could incorporate a wider variety of complex grammatical structures, such as passive voice or more varied subordinate clauses, to demonstrate greater flexibility.

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

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