Band 8.0 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 8.0 · Cambridge IELTS 12 · 2026-09-30

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 this letter to express my dissatisfaction about the Wi-Fi router I bought from your company last week, since it is not functioning properly.

Whenever I have to attend an online meeting or need to upload important documents, I find that the internet connection is extremely slow. For the past couple of days, I ignored the issue, as I thought it was temporary and would resolve itself. However, the problem has persisted. This issue is not only affecting my work but also causing considerable frustration, as I work from home and rely heavily on a stable internet connection to perform my daily tasks.

I would be grateful if you could arrange for a technician to inspect the router as soon as possible. If the problem cannot be resolved, I would appreciate it if you could replace the faulty router with a new one at no additional cost. I have retained the original receipt and can provide it if required.

I look forward to your prompt response and a satisfactory resolution to this matter.

Yours faithfully,

Ramneet Kaur

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response: Band 8.0

The candidate has fully and effectively addressed all three bullet points required by the prompt. First, the problem with the equipment is clearly described, noting that the Wi-Fi router bought last week 'is not functioning properly' and causes the 'internet connection is extremely slow.' Second, the impact on work is well explained, with the writer stating that the issue is affecting work and causing frustration because she works from home and relies on a stable connection for meetings and uploading documents. Third, the required action is explicitly stated: she requests a technician to inspect the device or a replacement 'at no additional cost.' The tone is appropriately formal and polite for a complaint letter. Overall, the task is comprehensively fulfilled with clear and relevant ideas.

Coherence and Cohesion: Band 8.5

The letter demonstrates a very clear and logical organisation from beginning to end. Information and ideas are logically sequenced, moving smoothly from the purpose of the letter in the opening paragraph, to the specific details and consequences of the problem in the body, and finally to the requested resolution. Paragraphing is used sufficiently and appropriately, with each paragraph serving a distinct and clear communicative function. Cohesive devices are managed well, using appropriate connectors and referencing items seamlessly (e.g., 'Whenever I have to...', 'For the past couple of days, I ignored the issue...', 'However, the problem has persisted.'). There are no instances of faulty referencing or awkward paragraph breaks, resulting in a cohesive piece of writing that is very easy to follow.

Lexical Resource: Band 7.5

The candidate displays a sufficient and flexible range of vocabulary suited to a formal complaint letter. Appropriate collocations and less common lexical items are used effectively throughout the text, such as 'express my dissatisfaction', 'functioning properly', 'relies heavily', and 'satisfactory resolution'. Word choices are precise, and there are virtually no spelling or lexical errors. While the vocabulary is not overly sophisticated or rare in every single line, it is accurate, natural, and more than adequate to convey precise meaning and maintain a professional register. The use of phrases like 'retained the original receipt' further enhances the appropriate business tone.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy: Band 8.5

The response exhibits a wide range of grammatical structures with excellent control. The writer successfully uses a mix of complex and compound sentences with high accuracy, such as conditional structures ('If the problem cannot be resolved, I would appreciate it if...') and subordinate clauses ('Whenever I have to attend an online meeting or need to upload important documents, I find that...'). The majority of sentences in the text are completely error-free, and punctuation is handled correctly throughout. There are no noticeable grammatical slips or awkward phrasings that impede communication. This high level of structural variety and accuracy fully supports the writer's communicative purpose.

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