Band 7.5 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 7.5 · Cambridge IELTS 12 · 2026-08-18

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,

My name is Rishabh Wadhwa. I recently purchased a webcam from your store. The model is Logitech L200. I am a bit disappointed with the product, as the video quality is extremely poor. The picture shows up much darker than it is supposed to show.

This is really impacting my work, as I have to frequently make video calls and this damages my reputation in front of my clients. The other day, one of my customer actually pointed out that my video is distorted and unclear. This was really embarrassing for me and ruins the reputation of my business.

I would like you to replace this product with a better alternative, as this one does not work for me. It is highly unlikely that it's a malfunction, I think it is a product with a poor build quality. Hence, it should be replaced with another model or webcam from another brand.

Yours faithfully,

Rishabh Wadhwa

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 8.0

The letter successfully addresses all three bullet points: the problem is described (poor video quality/dark picture), the impact on work is explained (reputation damage with clients), and a clear request for a replacement is made. The tone is appropriate for a formal complaint letter. The ideas are well-developed and the purpose of the letter is clear from the beginning. The response is fully relevant to the task instructions, and the writer maintains a consistent position throughout the text.

Coherence and Cohesion — Band 8.0

The letter is logically organized with a clear introduction, body paragraphs, and a formal closing. Each paragraph focuses on a specific aspect of the task, which aids readability. Cohesive devices such as 'as', 'this is', 'the other day', and 'hence' are used effectively to link ideas. The progression of information is smooth, moving from the description of the issue to its consequences and finally to the desired resolution. Paragraphing is used appropriately to separate the different stages of the complaint.

Lexical Resource — Band 7.0

The vocabulary is sufficient and appropriate for the context of a formal complaint. Phrases like 'extremely poor', 'impacting my work', and 'highly unlikely' demonstrate a good command of language. There is an attempt to use specific terminology related to the product, such as 'malfunction' and 'build quality'. While the vocabulary is functional and accurate, it lacks a wider range of sophisticated or less common lexical items that would be required for a higher band score. However, there are no errors in word choice that impede communication.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 7.0

The writing displays a mix of simple and complex sentence structures. Most sentences are error-free, and the grammar is generally accurate. There are minor slips, such as 'one of my customer' (should be 'customers') and 'than it is supposed to show' (which is slightly awkward phrasing). Despite these minor inaccuracies, the meaning is always clear, and the punctuation is used correctly throughout the letter. The control over verb tenses and sentence construction is consistent, supporting clear communication.

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

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