Band 7.0 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 7.0 · Cambridge IELTS 12 · 2026-11-04

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 7.0)

Dear Sir,

I am writing to request an inspection of the printer that I purchased last week. It was manufactured by your company and is one of your latest models. At the beginning it was working fine but now it is printing half blank papers.

My work requires me to draw up legal contracts for my clients which requires to be printed and delivered timely. I am working from home and I had bought this printer for this purpose. Due to this issue, I am running late to deliver my services to my clientele.

I would greatly appreciate it if you could send someone to check and fix the printer at my house as my work hours are quite hectic this week and I need it fixed as soon as possible. Please do let me know if this is possible at all and the other possible alternate solutions according to my situation.

Yours sincerely,

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response: Band 8.0

The letter covers all three required points clearly: you identify the printer and its fault (“printing half blank papers”), explain that delayed printing is making you late in delivering legal services, and request an inspection and repair at your home. The request is practical and the urgency is explained, so the purpose is well established. To make the response even more complete, specify what outcome you expect if the printer cannot be repaired promptly, such as a replacement or refund, rather than asking generally for “other possible alternate solutions.” Also, the opening “Dear Sir” does not follow the supplied “Dear Sir or Madam” exactly; using the given salutation would ensure the letter matches the task format. Overall, the key ideas are relevant and well developed.

Coherence and Cohesion: Band 7.5

The information is arranged in a clear sequence: the opening identifies the purchase and fault, the next paragraph explains the effect on your work, and the final paragraph makes a request. This paragraphing helps the reader follow the purpose without difficulty. Linking phrases such as “At the beginning,” “Due to this issue,” and “as” connect events and reasons effectively. The progression is logical, though the final request combines several points in one long sentence, making the repair request and the request for alternatives less distinct. Consider separating these into two sentences and using a clear closing line. This would make the cohesion feel more controlled and polished while preserving the straightforward organisation already present.

Lexical Resource: Band 6.5

You use an adequate range of vocabulary for a formal complaint, including “request an inspection,” “legal contracts,” “clientele,” and “services.” These choices communicate the situation clearly, and the tone is generally appropriate. Some expressions are less natural or precise: “half blank papers” would be clearer as “pages that are half blank,” while “deliver my services” is less suitable for contracts than “deliver the completed contracts.” “Other possible alternate solutions” is also redundant because “other” and “alternate” overlap. These examples show attempts at more formal vocabulary, but more accurate collocations and concise phrasing would improve flexibility and naturalness. Aim to choose words that describe the specific practical problem rather than relying on broad or repetitive expressions.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy: Band 6.5

The letter includes both simple and more complex sentence forms, such as “I would greatly appreciate it if you could send someone…” and “as my work hours are quite hectic this week.” Meaning remains clear throughout. However, some grammatical choices are inaccurate. In “which requires to be printed,” the relative clause needs a clear subject and structure, for example, “which need to be printed.” The phrase “I am running late to deliver” would be more naturally formed as “I am falling behind in delivering.” There is also a tense inconsistency in “At the beginning it was working fine but now it is printing,” where “Initially” would make the time contrast clearer. More consistent control of clauses and verb patterns would strengthen accuracy.

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

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