Band 6.0 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 6.0 · Barron's Writing · 2026-08-12

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/ Madam,

I am writing this letter to apprise my dissatisfaction. I purchased a jacket at the NIKE store two days before. I noticed it was torn from left side and zipper was not working properly, even though I have not worn it. So I went to the store as soon as I could after I found this problem.

The workers refused my request even I showed my receipt to them along with 15 days return policy. But they ignored my whole conversation and said that we cannot do anything which is totally disappointing for me from a renowned brand store.

I would like to replace it to new jacket or another item. In addition, it would be really appreciated if you could refund me. Please, resolve my this issues as soon as possible.

I am looking forward to hearing from you.

Yours sincerely,

Manpreet Kaur

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 5.5

The letter covers all three bullet points: describing the damage, explaining the store's refusal, and stating the desired outcome. However, the response is slightly under the 150-word minimum requirement, which impacts the overall task achievement. While the ideas are relevant, the development is somewhat brief. To improve, you should expand on the details, such as describing the specific nature of the tear or the store's location, to ensure the letter is fully developed and meets the length requirement. The tone is generally appropriate for a formal complaint, though it could be slightly more professional in its phrasing.

Coherence and Cohesion — Band 6.0

The letter is organized into logical paragraphs, which helps the reader follow the narrative. There is a clear progression from the purchase to the problem, the interaction with staff, and the final request. However, the use of cohesive devices is somewhat mechanical and limited. Transitions like 'So' and 'But' are used at the start of sentences, which is acceptable but could be more varied. The referencing is generally clear, but the flow between sentences could be improved by using a wider range of linking words to connect ideas more fluidly.

Lexical Resource — Band 6.0

The vocabulary is adequate for the task but lacks variety and precision. Phrases like 'apprise my dissatisfaction' are slightly unnatural; 'express my dissatisfaction' would be more standard. There are some minor errors in word choice, such as 'replace it to new jacket' instead of 'replace it with a new jacket'. While you successfully use some relevant terms like 'merchandise' and 'renowned brand', the overall range is limited. To reach a higher band, try to incorporate more sophisticated collocations and avoid repetitive phrasing.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 5.5

The letter contains a mix of simple and complex sentence structures. There are several grammatical errors, such as 'I purchased a jacket at the NIKE store two days before' (should be 'two days ago') and 'resolve my this issues' (incorrect determiner usage). Additionally, 'even I showed' should be 'even though I showed'. While these errors do not significantly impede communication, they occur frequently enough to affect the overall accuracy. Increasing the variety of complex structures while ensuring subject-verb agreement and correct article usage will help improve your score.

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

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