Band 7.5 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 7.5 · Barron's Writing · 2026-07-30

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 7.5)

Dear Sir or Madam,

I am writing this letter to express my dissatisfaction with my recent purchase from your store. Despite the fact that the product is damaged, I was told that merchandise cannot be returned.

Actually, I bought a leather jacket from Winners last week, as it caught my eye at first. However, when I reached home, I found that the garment was damaged from the inner side. I decided to return it immediately. I also have a receipt. Although I explained the whole circumstance to staff, they told me that I cannot give it back despite having a proof of purchase. At this point, I am frustrated.

I hope you understand my dissatisfaction because as a consumer I have a right to complain. I would appreciate it if you improved your consumer policy and gave me a solution regarding this issue. I will appreciate it if you either arrange an exchange or refund the full price.

I look forward to hearing from you.

Yours Sincerely,

Janki

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 7.5

You have successfully addressed all three bullet points in the prompt. You described the damage to the jacket, explained the store's refusal to accept the return, and clearly stated your desired outcome (a refund or exchange). The tone is appropriate for a formal letter of complaint. The ideas are relevant and well-developed, ensuring the reader understands the situation clearly. To reach a higher band, you could provide slightly more specific detail about the nature of the damage (e.g., a broken zipper or a tear in the lining) to further enhance the clarity of your complaint.

Coherence and Cohesion — Band 7.5

The letter is logically organized with a clear introduction, body paragraphs, and a conclusion. Each paragraph focuses on a distinct aspect of the task, which helps the reader follow your argument. You use some cohesive devices such as 'However', 'Although', and 'At this point', which help connect your ideas. To improve, ensure that your transitions between sentences are more varied. For instance, the transition between the second and third paragraph could be smoother by using a linking phrase that connects your frustration to the specific action you want the manager to take.

Lexical Resource — Band 7.0

You demonstrate a sufficient range of vocabulary to convey your message clearly. Phrases like 'express my dissatisfaction', 'proof of purchase', and 'consumer policy' are well-chosen and appropriate for a formal letter. There are no significant errors in word choice that impede communication. To move into the higher bands, try to incorporate more precise or sophisticated collocations. For example, instead of saying 'the garment was damaged from the inner side', you could use 'the item was defective' or 'the lining was torn'. Your vocabulary is functional and accurate for this task.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 7.5

You use a mix of simple and complex sentence structures effectively. Most of your sentences are error-free, and your control of punctuation is generally good. There are minor issues, such as 'despite having a proof of purchase' (should be 'proof of purchase' without 'a' or 'the proof'), but these do not hinder understanding. You show a good grasp of tense usage, particularly when describing past events and current expectations. To improve, try to incorporate a wider variety of complex structures, such as conditional sentences (e.g., 'If you were to offer a refund, I would be satisfied').

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