Band 7.0 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 7.0 · Cambridge IELTS 12 · 2026-08-08

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 7.0)

Dear Sir or Madam,

I am writing this to complain about a serious problem with my laptop that I purchased from your store.

Last month, I bought a laptop from your shop. In the beginning, it was working perfectly fine. Since the last week, I have been having some serious issue with the battery, it is draining rapidly than before. This has caused me serious inconvenience.

This laptop was mainly for my work. As I work from home, I have to solely depend on this laptop and to perform several work related tasks. I have to plug it all the time with the socket in order to complete my work. Last night, I was in the middle of an important meeting and laptop suddenly turned off and now it is not turning on.

As it is a new laptop and I have barely used it. I suppose that it is still under warranty. I would like to claim a warranty on this laptop. Meanwhile, I would be grateful if you could provide me a replacement so I can continue my work without any inconvenience.

I look forward to hearing back from you soon.

Yours faithfully,

John

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 7.5

The letter successfully addresses all three bullet points in the prompt. You clearly describe the battery issue, explain the negative impact on your work, and state your desired outcome (warranty claim and replacement). The tone is appropriate for a formal complaint letter. To reach a higher band, you could expand slightly on the specific nature of the 'work-related tasks' to provide more depth, but overall, the response is well-developed and fulfills the requirements of the task effectively.

Coherence and Cohesion — Band 7.0

The letter is logically organized with a clear progression of ideas. Each paragraph focuses on a specific aspect of the task, which helps the reader follow your argument easily. You use basic cohesive devices such as 'In the beginning', 'Meanwhile', and 'As a result' (implied). To improve, try to incorporate a wider variety of linking words and transition phrases to connect sentences more fluidly, as some transitions currently feel a bit mechanical or repetitive.

Lexical Resource — Band 6.5

You demonstrate a sufficient range of vocabulary to convey your message clearly. Phrases like 'serious inconvenience' and 'solely depend' are used appropriately. However, there are some minor inaccuracies in collocation and word choice, such as 'draining rapidly than before' (should be 'more rapidly') and 'plug it all the time with the socket' (should be 'plugged into a power outlet'). Expanding your vocabulary to include more precise technical or formal business terminology would help elevate your score.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 6.0

You use a mix of simple and complex sentence structures. While the meaning is always clear, there are several grammatical errors, such as 'Since the last week' (should be 'For the last week' or 'Since last week'), 'laptop suddenly turned off' (missing article 'the'), and 'I have barely used it' (the sentence fragment 'As it is a new laptop and I have barely used it' should be joined to the next sentence). Focusing on article usage and sentence completeness will improve your accuracy.

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

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