Band 7.0 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 7.0 · 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 7.0)

Dear Sir,

I am writing to express my dissatisfaction regarding a piece of clothing I bought recently from your store on August 1st, as well as the unsatisfactory service I received from customer service department.

I purchased a brown leather jacket (receipt No. #[redacted phone]). However, upon arriving home, I noticed a significant tear near the left armpit, as well as broken zipper. These defects seemed to already pre-existing, as original tags have been attached.

The next morning, I decided to get exchanged for this jacket, expecting a return or refund. To my surprise, I found the sales team informed me that it could not be returned as the policy mentioned all final sales once merchandise leaves the store. Despite of explaining the damaged areas I was still not offered any compensation or exchange product.

Given the circumstances, I request a full refund to my original mode of payment or new piece in replace of this damaged jacket.

I look further for your prompt response to solve this issue efficiently.

Yours faithfully,

Bin

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 8.0

The letter successfully addresses all three bullet points: the problem with the jacket is described, the interaction with the store staff is explained, and a clear request for a resolution is made. The tone is appropriate for a formal complaint letter. The ideas are well-developed and the purpose of the letter is clear from the outset. The response covers all requirements of the prompt effectively, ensuring the reader understands the situation and the desired outcome without any ambiguity.

Coherence and Cohesion — Band 7.0

The letter is logically organized with a clear introduction, body paragraphs, and a closing. Cohesive devices such as 'However', 'Despite of', and 'Given the circumstances' are used to link ideas. While the transition 'Despite of' is grammatically incorrect, the overall flow of information remains logical and easy to follow. Paragraphing is used appropriately to separate the description of the problem from the store's reaction and the final request, which helps the reader navigate the letter's structure.

Lexical Resource — Band 6.5

The vocabulary is generally appropriate for a formal letter, using terms like 'dissatisfaction', 'merchandise', and 'compensation'. There are some minor errors in word choice and collocation, such as 'get exchanged for this jacket' (should be 'exchange this jacket') and 'new piece in replace of' (should be 'as a replacement for'). However, these errors do not impede communication. The range is sufficient to convey the message clearly and professionally.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 6.0

The letter demonstrates a mix of simple and complex sentence structures. There are several grammatical slips, such as 'These defects seemed to already pre-existing' (should be 'seemed to be pre-existing') and 'Despite of explaining' (should be 'Despite explaining'). Additionally, 'I look further for your prompt response' is slightly unnatural; 'I look forward to' would be more accurate. Despite these errors, the meaning is always clear, and the errors do not cause difficulty for the reader.

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

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