Band 7.5 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 7.5 · Cambridge IELTS 12 · 2026-08-26

IELTS Writing Task 1 question

There have been several complaints about the reception area where visitors to your company arrive. Your manager has asked you to suggest how the reception area could be improved.

Write a letter to your manager. In your letter

• describe the complaints that have been made
• say why the reception area is important
• suggest how the reception area could be improved

You do NOT need to write any addresses.

Begin your letter as follows:

Dear ................. ,

Student answer (Band 7.5)

Dear Sir,

I am writing this letter to suggest some ways to improve the reception area of our office as we have received quite a number of complaints in the past few weeks.

The majority of complaints we have received are for the lack of sitting space in the reception. As the wait times are high to due the limited number of doctors, patients have to stand for long hours. The situation becomes worse when they do not find a suitable sitting spot. Additionally, some complaints are about the customer service experience and people have specially pointed out the unfriendly attitude of some receptionists.

Reception area is extremely important for any business as it is the first point of contact with the customers. If they are treated well in reception, they feel that further services will be good. It helps to build a positive image of the business.

I would like to suggest that more chairs should be added for making the waiting times more comfortable and pleasurable. Additionally, we should educate our staff to handle patients professionally in a kind and gentle way.

Hoping for prompt consideration.

Yours faithfully,

Achin Pal

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 8.0

The response successfully addresses all three bullet points of the prompt. You clearly describe the complaints regarding seating and staff attitude, explain the importance of the reception area as a 'first point of contact', and provide actionable suggestions for improvement. The tone is appropriate for a formal letter to a manager. The ideas are well-developed and relevant to the context provided. To reach a higher band, ensure that the connection between the complaints and the suggestions is even more explicit, perhaps by linking the specific staff training to the 'unfriendly attitude' mentioned earlier. Overall, the task is fully covered with a clear and consistent professional tone.

Coherence and Cohesion — Band 7.5

The letter is logically organized with a clear introduction, body paragraphs addressing specific points, and a professional closing. Each paragraph has a central theme, which aids readability. You use cohesive devices such as 'Additionally' and 'As' to link ideas effectively. However, the transition between the complaints and the importance of the reception area could be smoother. The paragraphing is sufficient and appropriate for a formal letter. The progression of ideas is logical, moving from the problem to the rationale and finally to the proposed solutions, which makes the letter easy to follow.

Lexical Resource — Band 7.0

You demonstrate a good range of vocabulary suitable for a professional context, such as 'prompt consideration', 'professional', and 'first point of contact'. There is an attempt to use less common collocations, though some phrasing is slightly repetitive (e.g., 'complaints we have received'). The word choice is generally accurate and conveys the intended meaning clearly. To improve, try to incorporate more sophisticated synonyms for common words like 'good' or 'bad' to show greater lexical flexibility. Overall, the vocabulary is sufficient to communicate your points with precision and clarity throughout the letter.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 7.0

The letter uses a mix of simple and complex sentence structures effectively. Most sentences are error-free, and the grammar is generally accurate. There are minor slips, such as 'wait times are high to due' (should be 'due to') and 'Reception area is' (should be 'The reception area is'). These errors are infrequent and do not impede communication. Your control over punctuation and sentence structure is solid, which allows for a smooth reading experience. To aim for a higher band, ensure consistent use of articles and check for minor prepositional errors in your final proofreading.

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

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