Band 7.5 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 7.5 · Barron's Writing · 2026-08-14

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 7.5)

Dear Manager,

I am writing to complain about a defective jacket that I bought from one of your stores located at Burnaby Hall last week.

As soon as I reached home, I unboxed the parcel, and it was a leather jacket, so I gave it a try. It came to my notice that the piece I received was defective; it had cracks that were highly visible. Moreover, the jacket's colour looked faded, and it was clear that it had been worn by someone before.

I immediately packed the parcel and went to the store to return it. However, the sales department refused to accept it and gave the reason that the jacket was on sale. I feel quite disappointed with the service, as it was not disclosed at the time of purchase.

I would appreciate it if you could replace the same item, or if it is not possible, kindly arrange a full refund because it was not disclosed to me during the payment.

I hope you will look into this

Yours sincerely,

Arshdeep Singh

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 7.5

The response successfully addresses all three bullet points of the prompt. You clearly describe the defects of the jacket (cracks and faded color), explain the negative experience at the store, and state your desired outcome (replacement or refund). The tone is appropriate for a formal letter of complaint. The ideas are well-developed and relevant to the situation described. To reach a higher band, you could provide more specific details, such as the date of purchase or the receipt number, to make the complaint more professional and realistic. Overall, the task requirements are fully met.

Coherence and Cohesion — Band 8.0

The letter is logically organized with a clear progression of ideas. Each paragraph serves a distinct purpose, moving from the introduction of the issue to the description of the problem, the store's response, and finally the requested action. Cohesive devices such as 'Moreover', 'However', and 'As soon as' are used effectively to link sentences and ideas. The paragraphing is appropriate for a formal letter. The flow is smooth, and the reader can easily follow the narrative of the complaint without confusion.

Lexical Resource — Band 7.0

You demonstrate a sufficient range of vocabulary to convey your message clearly. Phrases like 'defective jacket', 'highly visible', and 'disclosed at the time of purchase' are accurate and appropriate for the context. There is a good attempt at using less common vocabulary, though some phrasing could be more precise. For example, 'gave it a try' is slightly informal for a complaint letter. While the vocabulary is adequate and precise enough to communicate effectively, incorporating more sophisticated collocations would elevate the response further.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 7.0

The response displays a good mix of simple and complex sentence structures. Most sentences are error-free, and your control of grammar is generally strong. There are minor issues, such as the slightly awkward phrasing 'it was not disclosed to me during the payment', which could be improved for better clarity. Punctuation is generally accurate, though the final sentence is missing a full stop. Despite these minor slips, the grammatical control is consistent, and the meaning is never obscured by errors.

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

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