Band 5.5 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 5.5 · Barron's Writing · 2026-11-12

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 5.5)

Dear Sir or Madam,

I am writing to expresss my dissatisfaction with a clothing item I purchased from you store in person. A brown color branded leather jacket which cost me well, while when I worer it back to my home, it had a cut on the back. Owing to this, it appears old or worn-out, which left me miserable.

Following this, instantly I tried to reach your store and explained and showed that jacket to your employee. Unfortunately, they refused me to replace it with new one because it was merchandise one.

Therefore, I request you to discover this issue at the earliest. My parents agitated on me for this expense I pour i

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response: Band 5.0

You identify the main problem—a cut on the back of the jacket—and explain that a store employee refused to replace it. However, the response only partially fulfils the task: the damage and return attempt are mentioned briefly, while the requested action is not made clear. “I request you to discover this issue” does not specify whether you want a refund, replacement, or another remedy. The final sentence about your parents is unfinished, so it does not develop your explanation or request. The letter is also 35 words below the required minimum, leaving too little space to explain the circumstances and desired outcome fully. Add a clear, specific request and relevant details about the purchase and the store’s response.

Coherence and Cohesion: Band 6.0

The letter follows a generally understandable sequence: you introduce the purchase, describe the damage, explain the return attempt, and then make a request. Linking expressions such as “Following this” and “Therefore” help signal the movement between events. However, the progression is weakened by abrupt or unclear connections, particularly “A brown color branded leather jacket which cost me well, while when I worer it back to my home,” which makes the purchase and discovery difficult to follow. The final sentence also stops mid-thought, disrupting the ending. Use separate, clearly focused paragraphs for the problem, the return attempt, and your requested solution, and ensure each sentence connects logically to the next.

Lexical Resource: Band 5.5

You use some relevant vocabulary for a complaint, including “dissatisfaction,” “purchased,” “refused,” and “replace.” These choices show an attempt to use language suited to a formal letter. However, several word choices and collocations are inaccurate or unclear, such as “cost me well,” “merchandise one,” and “discover this issue.” “Miserable” also expresses an emotional reaction but does not explain the practical impact of the damage. There are noticeable spelling errors, including “expresss” and “worer,” which reduce the accuracy of the message. Aim for precise phrases such as “the jacket cost me…” and “the employee refused to accept the return,” and check spelling before submitting.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy: Band 5.0

You attempt both simple and more complex sentence forms, for example, “Owing to this, it appears old or worn-out,” and “because it was merchandise one.” However, the longer sentence describing the jacket and when you noticed the cut is not grammatically controlled, and the final sentence is incomplete: “My parents agitated on me for this expense I pour i”. There are also problems with articles and sentence construction, as in “replace it with new one,” and the clause beginning “A brown color branded leather jacket” is a fragment rather than a complete sentence. These errors sometimes make the intended meaning difficult to follow. Use shorter complete sentences first, then add complex clauses only when their structure is clear.

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.