Band 7.0 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 7.0 · Cambridge IELTS 12 · 2026-10-18

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 Sir or Madam,

I am writing to express my concerns regarding the headset delivered to me last week on Wednesday. The microphone attached to it is causing some issues for me while working.

The mic sometimes does not deliver my voice clearly to the other person on call. As a result, I am not able to communicate with my clients in a proper and professional way. Also, I have been alloted some time bugets for each of my files. I have to meet those targets in order to perform well in my company. However, due to improper functioning of the headset I am not able to complete my files on time. This is because most of my time just goes on resolving the headset issue.

Therefore, I am expecting the company to either make an exchange for the product or refund my money back at their earliest convenience.

Looking forward to your response.

Best Regards,

RKP

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response: Band 7.5

You address all three points clearly: you identify the faulty microphone, explain that unclear audio affects client communication and delays file completion, and request an exchange or refund. The consequences are relevant and your request is easy to understand. The explanation of the work impact is particularly useful, though “most of my time just goes on resolving the headset issue” could be made more specific by explaining what you have to do or how often the problem interrupts calls. The requested remedy is also clear, but you could strengthen the letter by specifying a preferred option or asking how to arrange the return. Overall, the purpose and tone are appropriate, with some room to develop the supporting details further.

Coherence and Cohesion: Band 7.5

The letter follows a clear progression: it introduces the complaint, describes the microphone fault, explains its effect on your work, and ends with a request. Paragraphing supports this sequence, and linking expressions such as “As a result,” “Also,” “However,” and “Therefore” help the reader follow the reasoning. The connection between the headset problem and missed deadlines is understandable. At times, however, the transitions feel somewhat formulaic, and the sentence beginning “Also” introduces the time budgets without a smooth link to the client-communication point. You could improve flow by grouping the work consequences more tightly and varying the way you connect related ideas. The closing is suitable, though a more conventional sign-off would make the letter feel more polished.

Lexical Resource: Band 6.5

You use a suitable range of vocabulary for a formal complaint, including “express my concerns,” “communicate with my clients,” “professional,” and “refund.” These choices make the purpose clear, and the reader can understand the equipment fault and its consequences. Some wording is imprecise or unnatural, however: “deliver my voice clearly” would be more idiomatic as “transmit my voice clearly,” while “time bugets” contains a spelling error and “alloted” is also misspelled. “Make an exchange” and “refund my money back” are awkward or redundant; more natural complaint-letter phrasing would be “replace the headset” and “issue a refund.” Greater accuracy with collocations and spelling would make your vocabulary more controlled and professional.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy: Band 7.0

You use a mix of simple and more complex sentence forms, and several sentences are controlled well, such as “As a result, I am not able to communicate with my clients in a proper and professional way.” The contrast introduced by “However” also helps express the relationship between your work targets and the equipment problem. Most of the message remains easy to follow, but some phrasing needs grammatical refinement. For example, “I am expecting the company to either make an exchange … or refund my money back” would be clearer as “I would like the company either to replace the headset or to issue a refund.” The sentence about time budgets and targets could also be divided or restructured to make its relationships clearer. Overall, grammar is generally controlled, with a few awkward constructions.

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

Browse more IELTS Writing model answers or get your own writing scored by the same AI examiner.