Band 8.0 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 8.0 · Cambridge IELTS 12 · 2026-08-22

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 8.0)

Dear Sir,

I am writing to complain about a problem with the laptop that I purchased from your company three months ago. As I work from home, I depend on this equipment to complete my daily responsibilities.

Unfortunately, the laptop has recently started freezing several times a day. The screen becomes unresponsive, and sometimes the device takes five or ten minutes to work again. It also becomes extremely hot, even when I am using only a few applications.

This issue is seriously affecting my work. I am unable to complete my tasks on time and have missed important online meetings because the laptop suddenly stopped working. Consequently, I am worried that this problem may affect my productivity and professional perfomance.

I would be grateful if you could arrange for a technician to inspect and repair the laptop as soon as possible. If it cannot be repaired, I would appreciate a replacement under the warranty.

I look forward to your prompt response.

Your faithfully,

Afroza

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 8.0

The response fully addresses all three bullet points in the prompt. You clearly describe the technical issues (freezing, overheating), explain the impact on your professional responsibilities (missed meetings, productivity concerns), and state your desired outcome (repair or replacement). The tone is appropriate for a formal complaint letter, and the purpose is clear from the outset. The ideas are well-developed and logically presented, meeting all the requirements of the task effectively.

Coherence and Cohesion — Band 8.0

The letter is well-organized with a logical progression of ideas. Each paragraph focuses on a specific aspect of the prompt, which helps the reader follow your argument easily. You use appropriate cohesive devices such as 'Unfortunately,' 'Consequently,' and 'If it cannot be repaired,' which link your sentences and paragraphs smoothly. The structure is professional, and the paragraphing is used effectively to separate the problem, the impact, and the requested solution.

Lexical Resource — Band 7.5

You demonstrate a good range of vocabulary appropriate for a formal business context, such as 'unresponsive,' 'productivity,' and 'professional performance.' The language is natural and precise. There is one minor spelling error ('perfomance' instead of 'performance'), but this does not impede communication. You successfully use topic-specific vocabulary related to technical issues and professional settings, which shows a solid command of the language.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 7.5

The response displays a good mix of simple and complex sentence structures. Your grammar is generally accurate, with very few errors. For instance, 'I am writing to complain' and 'I would be grateful if you could' are correctly constructed. There is a minor error in the closing salutation ('Your faithfully' should be 'Yours faithfully'), but this is a minor slip. The majority of your sentences are error-free, and your control over punctuation and tense is consistent throughout the letter.

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

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