Band 6.5 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 6.5 · Barron's Writing · 2026-11-09

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 6.5)

Dear Sir or Madam,

I am writing to complain about a leather jacket that I bought two days ago from your store.

When I got home from my office and took it out to wear it on a special occasion, I noticed that its zip got stuck. I tried to opened it, but I could not. After that, when I was packing it back, I saw the leather got torn apart from the back side. This incident spoilt my mood and I had to wear my old jacket for that occasion.

Next day, I contacted customer support. They mentioned that this jacket was on a stock clearance offer and cannot be returned. I was informed about the offer while shopping but nobody informed me about the return policy. If they had informed me, I would have considered another option.

I would really appreciate if you could look into this matter. I kindly request you to either replace this with a new one or refund. Thanks for your time and consideration.

Regards,

Chris

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response: Band 7.5

The letter addresses all three required points and maintains a clear, appropriate complaint throughout. You describe two specific defects—the stuck zip and the tear at the back—explain that customer support refused a return because the jacket was on clearance, and request either a replacement or a refund. The detail about wearing your old jacket also helps show the impact of the problem. To make the request more fully developed, specify what outcome you prefer and perhaps ask the manager to confirm how the issue will be resolved. The explanation that you were not told about the return policy is relevant, but could be linked more explicitly to why the refusal is unreasonable.

Coherence and Cohesion: Band 7.0

The information follows a clear sequence: purchase and discovery of the damage, the attempted return, and the requested resolution. Paragraphing separates these stages effectively, and linking expressions such as “After that,” “Next day,” and “If they had informed me” help the reader follow the account. The progression is logical, though some transitions are a little mechanical, and “Next day” would be clearer as “The next day.” The final request is concise but could connect more directly to the store’s refusal by stating that you expect the manager to review the decision. Overall, the organisation is clear, with room for slightly more natural and precise cohesion.

Lexical Resource: Band 6.0

You use enough vocabulary to explain the complaint clearly, including “leather jacket,” “stock clearance offer,” “return policy,” and “replace.” These choices suit the purpose, and the reader can understand the problem without difficulty. However, some expressions are imprecise or unnatural, such as “the leather got torn apart from the back side” and “look into this matter.” “Spoilt my mood” is understandable but informal for a formal complaint. Aim for more precise collocations and a consistently professional tone—for example, describe the jacket as “torn at the back” and ask the manager to “investigate the matter.” This would make the vocabulary more controlled and natural.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy: Band 6.0

The letter includes a mix of simple and more complex structures, such as “When I got home … I noticed” and the conditional sentence “If they had informed me, I would have considered another option.” Most meaning remains clear, but some grammatical errors are present. In “I tried to opened it,” use the base form after “tried to”: “I tried to open it.” The phrase “I would really appreciate if” needs “it” (“I would really appreciate it if”), and “either replace this with a new one or refund” needs a clearer parallel structure, such as “either replace it or issue a refund.” More consistent control of verb forms and sentence patterns would strengthen accuracy.

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.