Band 5.5 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 5.5 · Barron's Writing · 2026-07-26

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 would like to inform you that I recently purchased a jacket from a which is one of my favourite jacket. I was dreaming to have this jacket from last two years. It was black jacket from Gap. It took one week to placed order home. When I recieved this jacket I was so happy. Everything was good with the jacket like size, colour and all except the one arm of jacket. It was like the design in the left arm was faced to other side compared to right side of arm. I get so feel and disappointment. I went to get refund and I tried to get the refund because it was so expensive jacket but the manger said and their staff told me they can not give me refund. I felt so bad. After so much discussion I told them for exchange or may be any free gift card. I felt the next time then they decided to give me $100 gift card. And

I felt a little

satisfied. So, this

I really appreciate

the store manger

that helped in the

way he can

Thankyou for your

understanding.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 6.0

The letter addresses all three bullet points: describing the defect, explaining the refusal of the return, and stating the desired outcome. However, the narrative is somewhat confusing. You mention that the manager refused a refund, but then state that you discussed it further and received a $100 gift card, which contradicts the prompt's premise that you are writing to the manager to resolve an issue. The tone is inconsistent, shifting from a formal complaint to a narrative of a resolved situation. To improve, ensure your letter maintains a consistent purpose and clearly outlines the specific action you want the manager to take.

Coherence and Cohesion — Band 5.5

The letter lacks a clear structure. The paragraphing is fragmented, with several very short, isolated lines that disrupt the flow of the text. While there is a logical sequence of events, the use of cohesive devices is limited and sometimes mechanical. For example, the transition between the problem description and the resolution is abrupt. To improve, use linking words such as 'consequently', 'furthermore', or 'however' to connect your ideas more smoothly and group your sentences into well-developed paragraphs rather than single-sentence lines.

Lexical Resource — Band 5.5

The vocabulary is basic and repetitive. You rely on simple descriptors like 'good', 'bad', and 'happy'. There are also issues with word choice and collocation, such as 'faced to other side' instead of 'facing the opposite direction' and 'get so feel and disappointment' which is grammatically incorrect and unnatural. To reach a higher band, focus on using more precise adjectives and nouns related to retail and product quality, and ensure your collocations are accurate.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 5.5

There are frequent grammatical errors throughout the letter, including issues with verb tense ('I was dreaming to have this jacket from last two years'), article usage ('the one arm of jacket'), and sentence structure. Many sentences are fragmented or lack proper subject-verb agreement. While the meaning is generally understandable, the high frequency of errors makes the writing feel unpolished. Focus on mastering basic sentence construction, specifically tense consistency and the correct use of articles, before attempting more complex structures.

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