Band 8.0 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 8.0 · Barron's Writing · 2026-08-02

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 8.0)

Dear Sir or Madam,

I am writing with regard to a complain about an item I bought from your store last week. Please find the payment receipt attached below for yor reference.

I purchased a black jeans jacket from the 2026 winter collection which I did not try at the store because I was in my lunch break and had only 15 minutes to buy the item. However, when I arrived at home and tried the jacket, I noticed that it was damaged: its ziper was not closing propertly.

Because of this, in the next day, I went back to the store to solve the problem and the seller told me that the merchandise could not be returned. Despite this, she told me I could email the manager to check if something could be done instead.

Therefore, I would like to ask you whether the jacket could be traded for another item or I could be fully refunded.

Thank you in advance for your support. I am looking forward to your response.

Yours faithfully,

Polyana Ramos Araujo

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 8.5

The letter successfully addresses all three bullet points required by the prompt. You clearly described the defect (the zipper), explained the interaction with the store staff, and stated your desired resolution (exchange or refund). The tone is appropriate for a formal letter of complaint. The purpose of the letter is clear from the outset, and the ideas are developed sufficiently to meet the requirements of the task. No parts of the prompt were omitted, and the information provided is relevant and logical throughout.

Coherence and Cohesion — Band 8.5

The letter is well-organized with a clear logical progression. Each paragraph serves a distinct purpose, moving from the reason for writing to the description of the problem, the previous attempt to resolve it, and finally the proposed solution. You used cohesive devices such as 'However', 'Because of this', and 'Therefore' effectively to link your ideas. The paragraphing is appropriate, and the flow of information is smooth, making the letter easy to follow. The structure is consistent with standard formal correspondence.

Lexical Resource — Band 7.0

You demonstrate an adequate range of vocabulary for this task. You use specific terms like 'merchandise', 'receipt', and 'refund' correctly. However, there are some minor spelling errors, such as 'complain' instead of 'complaint', 'yor' instead of 'your', 'ziper' instead of 'zipper', and 'propertly' instead of 'properly'. While these errors are noticeable, they do not impede communication. To reach a higher band, focus on proofreading for these small slips and try to incorporate slightly more sophisticated collocations to enhance the professional tone of your writing.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 7.5

You show a good mix of simple and complex sentence structures. For example, the use of 'which I did not try at the store because...' shows an ability to combine clauses effectively. There are some minor grammatical inaccuracies, such as 'in the next day' (should be 'the next day') and 'I was in my lunch break' (should be 'on my lunch break'). Despite these occasional errors, your meaning is always clear, and the majority of your sentences are error-free. The punctuation is generally accurate, and the formal register is maintained throughout.

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