Band 7.5 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer
Overall Band Score: 7.5 · Cambridge IELTS 12 · 2026-09-03
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 in regards to the Laser 360 D model printer that was delivered to me by your company on 2nd September, 2026 at 21 Crescent Avenue. The printer looks exactly as it did on your website and I am amazed at the size which is perfect for my tabletop. However, I have a bitter complaint.
The printer is not getting the job done as the printed materials are too faint. I had reach out earlier to this effect and an engineer was sent over to replace the ink yet the problem remains unsolved.
Due to the faint prints, my project work has been rejected by my supervisor because it it not legible and even I can't seem to read the contents unless under a very bright light and the deadline for submission is barely two weeks away.
I am requesting that the printer be replaced with one that can print out bold and legible prints irrespective of the model as soon as possible to enable me meet up with my project deadline. I look forward to hearing from you.
Yours sincerely,
Ruth Omoikholo
AI examiner evaluation
| Criterion | Band |
|---|---|
| Task Achievement / Task Response | 7.5 |
| Coherence and Cohesion | 7.5 |
| Lexical Resource | 7.0 |
| Grammatical Range and Accuracy | 7.0 |
| Overall | 7.5 |
Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 7.5
The letter successfully addresses all three bullet points required by the prompt. You clearly describe the technical issue with the printer, explain the negative impact on your work (project rejection and deadline pressure), and state a clear request for a replacement. The tone is appropriate for a formal complaint letter, and the purpose is clear from the beginning. To reach a higher band, you could provide slightly more detail regarding the previous interaction with the engineer to show a more sophisticated development of the narrative, but overall, the task is fully accomplished.
Coherence and Cohesion — Band 7.5
The letter is well-organized with a logical progression of ideas. Each paragraph serves a distinct purpose, moving from the introduction to the problem, the impact, and finally the solution. You use cohesive devices such as 'However,' 'Due to,' and 'as soon as possible' effectively to link your sentences. The paragraphing is appropriate for a formal letter. The flow is smooth, and the reader can easily follow the sequence of events and the urgency of your request. There is no confusion regarding the referencing of the printer or the specific problem.
Lexical Resource — Band 7.0
You demonstrate an adequate range of vocabulary for this task. Phrases like 'bitter complaint,' 'legible,' and 'irrespective of the model' are used correctly and fit the formal context. There are no significant spelling errors, and your word choice is generally precise. To improve, you could incorporate more varied collocations or slightly more sophisticated vocabulary to describe the technical failure, such as 'malfunctioning' instead of 'not getting the job done' or 'substandard output' instead of 'faint prints.' Overall, the vocabulary is sufficient to convey your message clearly and professionally.
Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 7.0
You use a mix of simple and complex sentence structures effectively. While there are a few minor slips, such as 'I had reach out' (should be 'I had reached out') and 'it it not legible' (a repetition error), these do not impede communication. Your control over tense and sentence structure is generally good, and the punctuation is mostly accurate. The letter reads naturally and maintains a consistent formal tone. To move to a higher band, ensure that you proofread for small grammatical slips and aim for a slightly wider variety of complex sentence structures.
See this exact question answered at other band scores — the same prompt compared across bands.
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