Band 7.5 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 7.5 · 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 7.5)

Dear Sir,

I am writing this letter to report an issue with a laptop that I purchased from your store approximately two weeks ago. Unfortunately , it has started freezing unexpectedly and shutting down without warning even when I am using the normal application.

As I work from home , this issue is seriously affecting my ability to perform my job. As the laptop shuts down automatically I loose my unsaved work , I have already missed an important meeting due to this because I was unable to restart the device.This is causing considerable inconvenience and it may affect my work deadlines if the problem continues.

I would therefore appreciate if you could arrange for laptop to be inspected and repair as soon as possible. if the problem cannot be resolved promptly.I would prefer to receive a replacement device. As the equipment is still under warranty, I hope there will be no additional charge.

I look forward to your prompt response.

Yours faithfully,

Mariam

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response: Band 8.0

The response successfully covers all bullet points required by the prompt. You described the problem clearly by stating that the laptop has started freezing unexpectedly and shutting down without warning. You explained the impact on your work effectively, mentioning that you lose unsaved work and missed an important meeting due to the device automatically shutting down. Finally, you stated what you want the company to do by asking them to arrange for an inspection and repair, or otherwise provide a replacement device under the warranty. Your tone is appropriate for a formal complaint letter, and all parts of the task are fully addressed, matching the Band 8 criteria well.

Coherence and Cohesion: Band 7.0

Your letter is logically organised with a clear beginning, body paragraphs addressing the specific bullet points, and a professional closing. Paragraphing is used appropriately to separate different points, such as the description of the problem, its impact, and the requested action. Cohesive devices like 'Unfortunately', 'As I work from home', and 'I would therefore appreciate' help guide the reader smoothly through the text. However, a few minor punctuation errors around paragraph transitions and commas slightly disrupt the flow, which keeps this criterion at a solid Band 7 level.

Lexical Resource: Band 7.0

You demonstrated a sufficient range of vocabulary to communicate your message clearly and appropriately in a formal context. Phrases like 'unexpectedly', 'considerable inconvenience', 'promptly', and 'under warranty' show a good grasp of functional language. There are a few minor lexical inaccuracies, such as writing 'loose my unsaved work' instead of 'lose', and 'for laptop' missing the article 'the'. Despite these minor slip-ups, the vocabulary is varied enough to allow for precise expression, fitting the Band 7 descriptors comfortably.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy: Band 7.0

You utilized a good mix of simple and complex sentence structures throughout the letter, such as conditional and subordinate clauses like 'even when I am using the normal application' and 'if the problem cannot be resolved promptly.' The majority of your sentences are clear and grammatically sound. There are a few minor mechanical errors, including a missing article ('for laptop' instead of 'for the laptop') and punctuation errors like a missing space before a comma ('warning even') and a missing space after a full stop ('promptly.I would'). These minor slips prevent a higher score, but your control is strong enough for a Band 7.

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

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