Band 8.0 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 8.0 · Cambridge IELTS 12 · 2026-09-27

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 or Madam,

I am writing to complain about the laptop I purchased from your company approximately two months ago. I rely highly on this equipment as I am a software engineer and work from home. I carry out all my tasks and responsibilities through it.

Unfortunately, the laptop has recently started shutting down unexpectedly, particularly when I am working on several applications simultaneously. In addition, the battery now drains within an hour, even after fully charged. I have tried restarting the device and updating the software, but the problem persists.

This issue is having a significant impact on my daily work. The unexpected shutdowns have caused me to lose important documents and interrupt online meetings with clients. As a result, I am unable to complete my task efficiently and have occasionally had to work late to compensate for the lost time.

Therefore, I would appreciate it if you could arrange for the laptop to be repaired or replaced as soon as possible. If a replacement cannot be provided promptly, I would be grateful for a full refund so I can go for a reliable alternative. I look forward to hearing from you at your earliest convenience.

Yours faithfully,

Ruchi Shah.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response: Band 8.0

The response fully and effectively covers all parts of the task prompt. The student successfully describes the problem by mentioning that the laptop shuts down unexpectedly and the battery drains within an hour. They clearly explain how this impacts their work as a software engineer, noting lost documents and interrupted client meetings. Furthermore, they state what they want the company to do by explicitly requesting a repair, replacement, or full refund. The tone is appropriately formal and consistent throughout the letter, and the purpose is clear from the beginning. All bullet points are well-developed and addressed logically, meeting the Band 8 criteria for task achievement.

Coherence and Cohesion: Band 8.0

The letter demonstrates a clear logical organisation and progression from the opening statement to the closing remarks. Paragraphing is used sufficiently and appropriately, with each paragraph focusing on a distinct aspect of the prompt: introduction, problem description, work impact, and desired resolution. Cohesive devices are managed well, using phrases like 'Unfortunately', 'In addition', and 'As a result' to connect ideas smoothly without being intrusive. Referencing is clear throughout, as seen in the pronoun usage referring back to the laptop and the problems. The overall structure follows standard business letter conventions, supporting ease of reading.

Lexical Resource: Band 7.0

The student demonstrates a sufficient and flexible range of vocabulary suited to a formal complaint letter. Appropriate collocations and less common lexical items are used effectively, such as 'software engineer', 'unexpectedly', 'simultaneously', and 'at your earliest convenience'. Word choice is generally precise, although there is a minor preposition slip in the phrase 'even after fully charged' (which should be 'even after being fully charged'). However, these minor inaccuracies do not impede communication. The vocabulary allows the writer to convey precise meanings regarding technical issues and professional consequences, fitting the Band 7 profile.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy: Band 8.0

The student exhibits a strong command of grammatical structures, successfully blending simple and complex sentences. Examples of complex structures include conditional and participial constructions, such as 'If a replacement cannot be provided promptly, I would be grateful for a full refund so I can go for a reliable alternative.' The majority of sentences are error-free, and punctuation is handled correctly throughout. There is a minor slip in collocation or prepositional choice ('go for a reliable alternative' instead of 'opt for' or 'find'), but overall grammatical control is robust and error frequency is very low, comfortably placing this response in the Band 8 category.

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