Band 6.0 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 6.0 · Barron's Writing · 2026-08-08

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,

I am writing this letter to complain about one thing, I bought it from your company. It is red colour jacket. When I reached home and I tried it's chain was not working properly.

A week ago, I went to waterloo with my friend and there we visited your store and I bought one red jacket, In the store I tried trial piece and I was good, but after 3 days went I returned my gome and checked jacket and found that chain is not working properly.

Then yesterday, I went back to your store and request them to returned that jacket otherwise changed that piece, but they denied by saying "It is not our fault".

I would like you to please understand my situation and tell them to changed that or give me refund. Because I spent almost 500 CAD for that jacket and the amount is not small.

Thank you for your understanting. Please reply me as soon as possible.

Your faithful,

Riddhi

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 6.0

You have addressed all three bullet points: describing the defect, explaining the store's refusal, and stating your desired outcome. However, the tone is somewhat informal and lacks the professional polish expected in a formal letter of complaint. While the purpose is clear, the development of ideas is slightly repetitive, and the letter would benefit from a more structured approach to the narrative of the event. To improve, ensure that the tone remains consistently formal throughout, avoiding conversational phrasing like 'I am writing this letter to complain about one thing'.

Coherence and Cohesion — Band 6.0

The letter is organized into logical paragraphs, which helps the reader follow the sequence of events. However, the use of cohesive devices is quite limited and occasionally mechanical. For instance, the transition between the description of the problem and the store visit is abrupt. There is a reliance on simple conjunctions like 'and' or 'then'. To reach a higher band, you should use a wider variety of linking words and phrases (e.g., 'consequently', 'furthermore', 'despite this') to improve the flow between sentences and paragraphs.

Lexical Resource — Band 5.5

The vocabulary is adequate for the task but lacks precision and variety. You use basic terms such as 'thing', 'good', and 'changed'. There are also some errors in word choice and collocation, such as 'trial piece' (instead of 'display model') and 'returned that jacket' (when you mean 'return the jacket'). The spelling error 'gome' for 'home' and 'understanting' for 'understanding' also detract from the overall quality. Expanding your vocabulary to include more specific terms related to retail and consumer rights would significantly improve your score.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 5.5

There is a mix of simple and complex sentence structures, but the accuracy is inconsistent. You frequently struggle with verb tenses and word order, such as 'I tried it's chain was not working' and 'tell them to changed that'. Additionally, there are issues with article usage and sentence fragments. While the meaning is generally clear, these persistent errors in basic grammar and punctuation require attention. Focusing on subject-verb agreement and the correct use of modal verbs would help you achieve more error-free sentences.

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

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