Band 5.0 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 5.0 · Barron's Writing · 2026-08-05

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 5.0)

Dear sir,

I hope you are doing well. I want to inform you that recently I bought a jacket from Marks, which is located in Divisadero Mall. I got this damaged. from inside of the jacket. Unfortunately, when i went back to the store for return this jacket, they refused.

One day ago I bought a jacket. No doubt this was expensive, but I want to buy it because for a long time I have been wondering about this. Finally, I got this from Mark's store. I was too excited to wear this when i opened it. This gave me a shock, like from inside, this was damaged.

when I went back to the store for a refund. They totally refused ,beacuse manager of the store told me this product this not re

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 4.0

The response fails to meet the minimum word count requirement of 150 words, which significantly impacts the development of the task. While you have identified the problem and the store's refusal, the letter is incomplete; it ends abruptly mid-sentence ('this product this not re'), meaning the final requirement—stating what you would like the manager to do—is not addressed. To improve, ensure you fully develop each bullet point and provide a clear conclusion. The tone is generally appropriate for a formal letter, but the lack of completion prevents a higher score.

Coherence and Cohesion — Band 5.0

The letter lacks a logical flow due to the incomplete nature of the text. While you have attempted to use paragraphs, the transition between the introduction and the body is repetitive, as you restate the purchase of the jacket in the second paragraph. Cohesive devices are minimal, and the abrupt ending makes the overall structure incoherent. To improve, ensure each paragraph has a distinct purpose and use linking words like 'consequently' or 'furthermore' to connect your ideas smoothly. Proper paragraphing is essential for a professional letter.

Lexical Resource — Band 5.0

The vocabulary is basic and repetitive. You use simple phrases like 'I want to inform you' and 'I was too excited'. There are also issues with word choice and collocation, such as 'I got this damaged' instead of 'I discovered the jacket was damaged'. The vocabulary is sufficient to convey the basic situation, but it lacks the range and precision required for higher bands. Expanding your vocabulary to include more specific terms related to retail and customer service would greatly enhance your writing.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 5.0

There are frequent grammatical errors throughout the text, including issues with sentence structure, punctuation, and verb tense. For example, 'I want to buy it because for a long time I have been wondering about this' is awkward, and 'beacuse' is misspelled. The sentence fragments and the incomplete final sentence indicate a lack of control over complex structures. To improve, focus on basic sentence construction, ensuring every sentence has a clear subject and verb, and proofread carefully to correct spelling and punctuation errors.

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

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