Band 7.5 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 7.5 · Cambridge IELTS 12 · 2026-08-14

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 complaint about a problem with a laptop that I purchased from your store last month. Unfortunately, the device has recently experiencing serious technical issues, which are affecting my ability to work from home.

The main problem is that the laptop suddenly shuts down after approximately 20 minutes of use, even when the battery is fully charged. In addition, it becomes unusually hot and the fan makes a loud noise. I have tried restarting the device and installing the latest updates, but the problem is still persists.

As I work from home, this issue is having a significant impact on my productivity. I regularly attend online meetings and use several software programs, but the unexpected shutdowns interrupt my work and sometimes cause me to lose important files.

I would appreciate it if you could arrange an inspection and either repair the laptop or provide me with a replacement. I would be grateful for a prompt solution, as I need the equipment for my daily work.

Yours faithfully,

Vijay

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 8.0

The letter successfully addresses all three bullet points of the prompt. You clearly describe the technical problem with the laptop, explain the negative impact on your work, and state your desired outcome (repair or replacement). The tone is appropriate for a formal letter of complaint, and the purpose is clear from the outset. The ideas are well-developed and relevant to the task requirements, demonstrating a solid understanding of the communicative goal. No parts of the task were omitted, and the response maintains a consistent focus throughout.

Coherence and Cohesion — Band 8.0

The letter is logically organized, with each paragraph focusing on a specific aspect of the prompt. The progression of ideas is smooth, moving from the introduction of the issue to the specific symptoms, the impact on your work, and finally the requested solution. You use cohesive devices effectively, such as 'In addition', 'As I work from home', and 'I would appreciate it if', which help guide the reader through the text. Paragraphing is used appropriately to separate distinct ideas, making the letter easy to follow and professional in its structure.

Lexical Resource — Band 7.0

You demonstrate a good range of vocabulary suitable for a formal complaint. Phrases like 'significant impact', 'unexpected shutdowns', and 'prompt solution' are used accurately. There is a minor error in the first paragraph ('I am writing to complaint' should be 'I am writing to complain'), but this does not impede communication. You use a sufficient range of vocabulary to convey your meaning with precision. To reach a higher band, you could incorporate slightly more sophisticated collocations or idiomatic expressions appropriate for formal business correspondence.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 7.0

The letter displays a good mix of simple and complex sentence structures. Most sentences are error-free, and the grammar is generally accurate. However, there are a few minor slips: 'the device has recently experiencing' should be 'has recently been experiencing', and 'the problem is still persists' is redundant (it should be 'the problem still persists' or 'the problem is still persisting'). Despite these occasional errors, the meaning is always clear, and the control of punctuation and sentence structure is strong enough to maintain a professional tone throughout.

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

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