Band 6.0 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 6.0 · 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 6.0)

Dear Sir or Madam,

I am writing to file a complaint regarding your Company's return policy.

I recently purchased a black leather jacket from your store last week and found it to be damaged. The problem with jacket was it has tiny holes near the arms which i noticed at home and then decided to bring it back to show your staff and get the refund.

The customer service people denied me that they cannot take that jacket back by mentioning about your return policy and when I argued about that I was not aware, they started yelling at me instead of understanding my problem.

The recommendations, I want to give is that their should be clear notice about your refund policies in order to avoid any inconvenious. Secondly, I would suggest the service desk people should have some patience and well behaved.

Looking forward to receive positive response.

Yours faithfully,

Harjas

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 6.0

You have addressed all three bullet points required by the task: describing the jacket's defect, explaining the negative experience at the store, and stating your desired outcome. The tone is appropriate for a formal letter of complaint. However, the development of ideas is somewhat limited. For instance, you could have provided more specific details about the jacket or the store staff's behavior to make the complaint more persuasive. While the task requirements are met, the response lacks the depth of detail that would elevate it to a higher band. Ensure that each point is fully expanded to demonstrate a more comprehensive approach to the task.

Coherence and Cohesion — Band 6.0

The letter follows a logical structure, with a clear introduction, body paragraphs, and a closing. Paragraphing is used appropriately to separate the different stages of your complaint. However, the use of cohesive devices is somewhat mechanical and limited. For example, phrases like 'The recommendations, I want to give is that' are slightly awkward and disrupt the flow. To improve, try using a wider variety of linking words and transition phrases to connect your ideas more naturally. While the overall progression is clear, the lack of sophisticated cohesive devices keeps this in the mid-range.

Lexical Resource — Band 5.5

You demonstrate an adequate range of vocabulary for the task, using terms like 'purchased', 'merchandise', and 'complaint' correctly. However, there are some noticeable errors in word choice and collocation, such as 'denied me that they cannot take' and 'inconvenious' (which is not a standard English word; 'inconvenience' was intended). Additionally, 'service desk people' is quite informal. To achieve a higher score, focus on using more precise terminology and ensuring that word forms are accurate. Expanding your range of collocations—such as 'defective merchandise' or 'unprofessional conduct'—would significantly improve your lexical profile.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 5.5

The response contains a mix of simple and complex sentence structures, but there are frequent grammatical errors that occasionally impede clarity. For example, 'The problem with jacket was it has tiny holes' lacks an article and correct verb tense consistency. You also have issues with subject-verb agreement and sentence construction, such as 'their should be clear notice' (should be 'there') and 'the service desk people should have some patience and well behaved' (should be 'behave well'). While the meaning is generally understandable, the frequency of these errors prevents a higher score. Focus on proofreading for basic subject-verb agreement and article usage.

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

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