Band 6.5 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 6.5 · Barron's Writing · 2026-08-04

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/Madam,

I hope you are doing well. I am writing this letter to express my dissatisfaction regarding the customer service and the jacket that I had bought last week from your store.

To begin with, last week I had bought a jacket and in the store it appears perfect in condition. But, after reaching home when I opened it again I realized that there is an issue with its zipper and couple of the stitches are coming apart. It really made me sad as I was really excited because I have a really important occasion for which I specifically bought it.

However, when I tried to return it your staff told me you have a no return policy. Moreover, they decline to help me in any way possible. As, I spend more than what I originally intended to so it was really important to me.

I think your customer representatives needs further training regarding how to properly deal with angry and frustrated customer. So, that no other individuals to face the same situation as me. Additionally, can typo please either return it or exchange it. Please let me know if you need any further information.

Please let me know what you think about my suggestion. I will eagerly wait for your response.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 7.0

The letter covers all three bullet points required by the prompt: describing the damage, explaining the interaction with staff, and stating the desired outcome. The tone is generally appropriate for a formal complaint, though it occasionally slips into informal phrasing. The purpose of the letter is clear, and the ideas are developed sufficiently to meet the requirements of the task. To reach a higher band, ensure that the tone remains consistently formal throughout, as some phrasing like 'It really made me sad' is slightly too conversational for a formal letter to a manager.

Coherence and Cohesion — Band 7.0

The letter is logically organized into clear paragraphs, each serving a specific purpose. The progression of ideas is easy to follow, moving from the purchase to the problem, the failed return, and finally the requested solution. Cohesive devices such as 'To begin with', 'However', and 'Additionally' are used to link ideas, although some transitions feel slightly mechanical. The paragraphing is appropriate, and the overall structure supports the reader's understanding of the situation effectively.

Lexical Resource — Band 6.0

The vocabulary is adequate for the task, allowing the student to communicate the situation clearly. There are some attempts at using more specific vocabulary, such as 'dissatisfaction' and 'intended'. However, there are some minor inaccuracies in word choice and collocation, such as 'appears perfect in condition' (should be 'appeared to be in perfect condition') and the typo 'can typo please'. The range is sufficient for the task, but more precise and varied vocabulary would be needed for a higher score.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 6.0

The student uses a mix of simple and complex sentence structures. While the meaning is always clear, there are several grammatical errors, such as tense inconsistencies ('last week I had bought' instead of 'last week I bought') and subject-verb agreement issues ('your customer representatives needs'). Punctuation is generally functional, but there are some awkward phrasings that slightly detract from the flow. The errors do not impede communication, but they are frequent enough to prevent a higher band score.

See this exact question answered at other band scores — the same prompt compared across bands.

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