Band 7.0 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer
Overall Band Score: 7.0 · Cambridge IELTS 12 · 2026-09-21
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 7.0)
Dear Madam.
I am writing to express my feelings with respect to the hand dryer I ordered 2 weeks ago from your online shop.
The specification and usage boldly explained that the tool can be on and running for 18 hours daily, and charged after usage. Unfortunately, I only switched it on, and after 5 hours I observed smoke coming out of the tool, and it stopped working. I spent 250,000 naira on the hand dryer, for its purchase and delivery, and I have barely used it, but feel disappointed with the failure.
Furthermore, I would kindly request for your quick attention and investigation, as I am willing to return the hand dryer to your maintenance shop, an I wish to be refunded fully and compensated for the waste of time, and the damage it has caused to my home electrical system, which I can send you the evidence if you permit me.
Finally, I will humbly wait for your quick response.
Yours Sincerely
Davids Sotonye
AI examiner evaluation
| Criterion | Band |
|---|---|
| Task Achievement / Task Response | 7.0 |
| Coherence and Cohesion | 7.0 |
| Lexical Resource | 6.5 |
| Grammatical Range and Accuracy | 7.0 |
| Overall | 7.0 |
Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 7.0
The response successfully covers all three bullet points required in the task instructions. The writer describes the equipment problem effectively by noting that smoke emerged from the hand dryer after only five hours of use. Furthermore, the impact on their work or home situation is highlighted through the mention of disappointment and home electrical system damage. Finally, clear demands are made regarding what the company should do, specifically requesting a full refund, compensation, and offering to return the item. The tone is appropriate for a formal complaint letter, and all parts of the task are adequately addressed. Therefore, this performance aligns well with the descriptors for Band 7.
Coherence and Cohesion — Band 7.0
The letter follows a clear and logical organisational structure, moving appropriately from the statement of purpose and context to the description of the fault, the requested resolution, and finally a polite closing remark. Paragraphing is used sufficiently to separate distinct ideas, such as the product details, the malfunction, and the demands for compensation. Cohesive devices are employed reasonably well, using words like 'Unfortunately', 'Furthermore', and 'Finally' to guide the reader through the text, although some referencing is slightly clunky. Overall, the progression of ideas is easy to follow, supporting a solid Band 7 score.
Lexical Resource — Band 6.5
The student demonstrates an adequate and generally appropriate range of vocabulary for this task, utilizing functional phrases such as 'express my feelings', 'online shop', and 'maintenance shop'. Less common vocabulary items are attempted, including 'specification', 'investigation', and 'compensation'. There are a few slightly unnatural phrasings or minor lexical choices, such as 'the tool can be on and running' rather than 'operating continuously', but these do not impede communication. The spelling and word formation are generally accurate, placing this response comfortably at the Band 6.5 level, which rounds to 6.5.
Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 7.0
The writer showcases a mix of simple and complex sentence structures, such as the relative clause in 'the hand dryer I ordered 2 weeks ago' and the conditional clause structure. While there are frequent error-free sentences, a few grammatical slips and punctuation awkwardnesses appear, such as 'an I wish' instead of 'and I wish' and a minor comma splice or run-on tendency in the third paragraph. However, these errors are relatively infrequent and do not impede the overall flow or meaning of the letter. This demonstrates good control over basic and intermediate grammar, fitting the Band 7 criteria.
See this exact question answered at other band scores — the same prompt compared across bands.
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