Band 8.0 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 8.0 · Cambridge IELTS 12 · 2026-10-04

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,

I am writing to complain about a laptop that my company bought from your shop two months ago.

I have been working from home for Revital Health. Over the past week, the laptop has started shutting down unexpectedly, even when the battery is fully charged. In addition, it becomes extremly slow when I open several applications at the same time and sometimes the screen freezes completely. I have tried restarting the device and installing the latest updates but unfortunately, the problem still persists.

The issue is seriously affecting my work because I am unable to attend online mettings without interruptions. I have also missed a few deadlines because the laptop suddenly stopped working while I was completing important documents. As a result, I am becoming concerned that this problem could affect my productivity and my professional responsibilties.

I would therefore appreciate it if you could arrange an inspection of the laptop as soon as possible. If the problem cannot be repaired promptly, I would prefer to receive replacement device of the same model or a full refund. I have attached a copy of receipt and would be grateful if you could deal with this matter urgently.

I look forward to hearing from you soon.

Yours faithfully,

Darshit

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response: Band 9.0

The response fully satisfies all requirements of the task with a fully developed and appropriate approach. The letter adopts a natural and professional tone from the opening line and covers all bullet points thoroughly. The description of the equipment problem is specific, noting unexpected shutdowns and screen freezing. The explanation of how this affects work clearly outlines missed deadlines and meeting interruptions. Finally, the requested actions regarding an inspection, replacement, or refund are explicitly stated. There are no omissions, and the ideas are extended logically without any tangential information, showcasing a fully sustained and successful handling of the prompt.

Coherence and Cohesion: Band 8.0

Ideas are logically sequenced, ensuring a clear overall progression throughout the letter. Each paragraph has a distinct focus, beginning with the purpose of the letter, moving to the description of the problem and its impact, and concluding with the required solutions. Cohesive devices such as 'In addition', 'As a result', and 'I would therefore appreciate it' are managed effectively and contribute to the smooth flow of the text. Paragraphing is used sufficiently and appropriately, separating the distinct ideas neatly. Referencing and substitution are handled with precision, ensuring that the reader can effortlessly follow the sequence of events and arguments from start to finish.

Lexical Resource: Band 7.0

The vocabulary used demonstrates a sufficient range for the task, allowing for flexibility and precision. The writer incorporates less common items and workplace terminology such as 'unexpectedly', 'productivity', 'professional responsibilities', and 'promptly' with a good awareness of style and collocation. However, there are a few minor lexical and spelling errors that prevent the writing from achieving a higher score, notably the spelling slip 'extremly' instead of 'extremely' and a missing article in 'a copy of receipt'. Despite these minor inaccuracies, the lexical resource is generally fluent and communicates the message clearly and appropriately for a formal business correspondence.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy: Band 7.5

The writing exhibits a good control of grammar and punctuation, featuring a variety of complex structures alongside frequent error-free sentences. The student successfully utilizes complex clause structures, such as conditional forms ('If the problem cannot be repaired promptly, I would prefer...') and subordinate clauses ('even when the battery is fully charged'). Punctuation is handled accurately throughout. A few minor errors persist, such as the missing article in 'replacement device' (which should be 'a replacement device'), but these do not impede communication and occur only occasionally within an otherwise strong and varied grammatical framework.

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