Band 7.5 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer
Overall Band Score: 7.5 · Cambridge IELTS 12 · 2026-08-21
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 Adam Gilbert. I purchased an Apple Macbook laptop from your store in Gurugram on 10th June 2026. I am writing to you because I am having an issue with the laptop. It has been overheating from quite some time, even if I am not running any heavy application or process.
This is a major hindrance to my work as I work from home and I am a software developer. I need my laptop for all my meetings as well as for my development tasks. Yesterday, I tried to open an email and to my surprise, the machine started to heat. This is such a trivial task and the laptop was not even able to do that. This is very disconcerting for me as I have used Apple products before and never had any problems.
The laptop is still under warranty, so I request you to either replace the laptop or get it repaired on an urgent basis. As I mentioned before, I use this laptop for work, so I would appreciate if you treat the matter with utmost urgency.
Yours faithfully,
Adam Gilbert
AI examiner evaluation
| Criterion | Band |
|---|---|
| Task Achievement / Task Response | 8.0 |
| Coherence and Cohesion | 8.0 |
| Lexical Resource | 7.0 |
| Grammatical Range and Accuracy | 7.5 |
| Overall | 7.5 |
Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 8.0
The response fully addresses all three bullet points in the prompt. You clearly describe the overheating issue, explain the impact on your work as a software developer, and state your desired outcome (repair or replacement). The tone is appropriate for a formal letter of complaint. The ideas are well-developed and the purpose of the letter is clear from the outset. You have maintained a consistent professional tone throughout, which is essential for this task type. No parts of the prompt were omitted, and the information provided is relevant and sufficient to achieve the task's objective.
Coherence and Cohesion — Band 8.0
The letter is logically organized with a clear progression of ideas. Each paragraph serves a distinct purpose: introduction, problem description/impact, and call to action. You use cohesive devices effectively, such as 'This is a major hindrance' and 'As I mentioned before', to link your points smoothly. Paragraphing is used appropriately to separate the different sections of the letter. The flow of information is natural, and the relationship between the problem and the requested solution is clearly established, making the letter easy to follow for the reader.
Lexical Resource — Band 7.0
You demonstrate a good range of vocabulary appropriate for a formal complaint. Phrases like 'major hindrance', 'disconcerting', and 'utmost urgency' are well-chosen and add a professional tone. There is a minor collocation error in the phrase 'overheating from quite some time', which should be 'for quite some time'. However, this does not impede communication. You use specific terminology related to your profession, such as 'software developer' and 'development tasks', which fits the context well. The vocabulary is sufficient to convey your message with precision and style.
Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 7.5
The letter displays a good mix of simple and complex sentence structures. Your control over grammar is generally strong, with most sentences being error-free. There is a minor preposition error in the first paragraph ('overheating from' instead of 'for'). Additionally, the sentence 'the machine started to heat' is grammatically correct but could be more naturally phrased as 'the machine started to overheat'. Punctuation is used correctly throughout, and the formal structure of the letter is maintained perfectly. The errors present are non-systematic and do not interfere with the clarity of your request.
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