Band 6.0 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 6.0 · Barron's Writing · 2026-11-06

IELTS Writing Task 1 question

You recently bought a jacket, but when you got home, you discovered it was
damaged. When you took it back to the store, you were told that merchandise
cannot be returned.

Write a letter to the store manager. In your letter:
• describe the problem with the jacket.
• explain what happened when you tried to return it.
• say what you would like the manager to do.

You do NOT need to write any addresses.

Begin your letter as follows:

Dear Sir or Madam,

Student answer (Band 6.0)

Dear sir

I am writing about that happend last week ago on your city store. I bought a jacket from your store as usually I buy clothes from your store. However, Ibought a jacket, which has a big hole under the arm. I saw, when I worn at home.

After that I went to store to exchange the item but they did not have that same jacket. Eventhough I was ready to buy in different colour. So, asked for refund but they denied as per some policies. Also the behaviour and tone of the staff was rude.

Kindly, I request you, you have to retrained the whole staff about the rechecking the stuff as well as your management should teach them communication skills for thier rude behaviour and If possible, please exhange that product as I can wait or provide my money back because the jacket is really expensive.

yours faithfully

Mohit

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response: Band 6.5

You address all three required points: the jacket has “a big hole under the arm,” the staff refused a refund when you tried to return it, and you ask the manager to exchange it or return your money. The request is clear, and the detail that you were willing to accept another colour helps explain your attempt to resolve the problem. Some points are less fully developed: the account of the return is brief, and the request to retrain staff is not explained as clearly as the remedy you want for the jacket. To strengthen the letter, give a little more detail about when and how you bought it, and state your preferred solution directly and politely. The content is relevant and the purpose is apparent throughout.

Coherence and Cohesion: Band 6.5

The letter follows a generally sensible order: you introduce the purchase, describe the damage, explain the attempted return, and finish with requests to the manager. Linking phrases such as “However,” “After that,” and “Also” help the reader follow the sequence. The organisation is clear overall, though some connections are awkward or unclear—for example, “Even though I was ready to buy in different colour. So, asked for refund” leaves the relationship between the ideas incomplete. The final paragraph also combines staff training, an exchange, and a refund in one long stretch. Use separate paragraphs for the problem, the return attempt, and your requested action, and connect each point with complete, precise sentences.

Lexical Resource: Band 5.5

You use enough vocabulary to communicate the main complaint, including “hole,” “exchange,” “refund,” and “policies.” There are also attempts at more specific language, such as describing the staff’s “behaviour and tone.” However, several word choices, collocations, and spelling errors make the letter less natural and sometimes less precise: “rechecking the stuff” is unclear, “retrained the whole staff” is not the most suitable phrasing, and “thier” and “exhange” are misspelled. “City store” also does not clearly identify the branch. Aim for standard customer-service expressions and check spelling carefully. A more precise vocabulary range would make your complaint sound clearer and more appropriately formal.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy: Band 5.0

You attempt both simple and more complex sentences, including a relative clause in “a jacket, which has a big hole” and a reason introduced by “because.” However, control is uneven, and errors in sentence structure and verb forms sometimes make the message difficult to read. For example, “I saw, when I worn at home” is not a complete, correctly formed sentence, while “So, asked for refund” lacks a subject. The opening also has an unclear tense construction: “that happend last week ago.” Practise forming complete sentences with a clear subject and verb, and check past-tense forms and articles. Breaking the long final sentence into shorter, accurate sentences would improve clarity.

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