Band 6.0 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 6.0 · 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 6.0)

Dear Sir or Madam,

I am writing to address my concern about a product from your store. Two weeks ago i bought a jacket from your store, but when I came home after purchasing the jacket i found that the jacket threads are coming out. The condition of the jacket worst from inside. So i decided to return it. The next day I went to your store to return the product but one of the staff member refused to accept my return request.

I would like you to grant me my return approval, so that I can purchase new one in a proper condition. Next week am going on a trip with my friends, i want to wear a jacket on the trip. I need my return within one week. Try to solve my issue as soon as possible and provide me with the return service. I hope will understand my situation and take action against my issue.

Kind regards,

Sumaiya

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 6.0

The letter covers all three bullet points: the problem is described, the interaction with staff is explained, and a request for action is made. However, the tone is somewhat demanding and lacks the appropriate level of formality required for a formal complaint letter. The development of ideas is sufficient, but the explanation of the return policy issue could be more detailed to better reflect the frustration of the situation. The purpose of the letter is clear, and the reader is left in no doubt about what is required, which satisfies the requirements for a Band 6.0.

Coherence and Cohesion — Band 6.0

The letter is logically organized into paragraphs, with a clear introduction, body, and conclusion. However, the use of cohesive devices is quite limited and mechanical. For example, the transition between the problem and the store visit is abrupt. There is a reliance on simple sentence structures, and the flow between ideas could be improved with more varied linking words (e.g., 'consequently', 'furthermore', 'nevertheless'). Paragraphing is present, but the internal structure of the paragraphs feels a bit disjointed due to the lack of sophisticated cohesive links.

Lexical Resource — Band 5.5

The vocabulary is adequate for the task but lacks range and precision. Phrases like 'threads are coming out' and 'condition of the jacket worst' are functional but basic. There are some errors in word choice, such as 'worst' used as an adjective instead of 'worse', and 'return approval' which is slightly unnatural. The student uses a limited range of vocabulary, and there is little attempt to use less common or more sophisticated lexical items. To improve, the student should focus on more precise collocations and formal business terminology.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 5.5

The response contains a mix of simple and some complex sentence structures, but there are frequent grammatical errors. Issues include missing articles ('a new one'), incorrect verb forms ('I hope will understand'), and punctuation errors (e.g., lowercase 'i'). The sentence structure is often repetitive, relying on simple subject-verb-object patterns. While the meaning is generally clear, the frequency of errors—particularly with basic grammar and capitalization—prevents the writing from reaching a higher band. The student needs to focus on subject-verb agreement and consistent use of articles.

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