Band 6.0 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 6.0 · Barron's Writing · 2026-08-15

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 share the issue which I faced through by your staff who are not returning my jacket which I recently bought from your shop.

My name is Teenu Walia and I bought leader jacket from your shop in this Sunday. When I went house, and tried to wear, My mother asked me their is a hole which is backside of the jacket. I felt very sad as i bought this because I have to attend my friend's birthday party.

After the party, next day when I went your shop and asked your staff regarding this issue, firstly they ignored me. After that one of the team head came and denay to return my jacket.

I extremely request you to help me for this issue. Either exchange it or return my money. Thank you for understanding my concern. I am still waiting for your response.

With Regards,

Teenu Walia.

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 clear request for action is made. However, the development of these points is quite basic. The tone is somewhat informal and lacks the professional polish expected in a formal letter of complaint. While the purpose is clear, the response would benefit from more detailed explanations regarding the jacket's condition and a more formal structure for the request. It meets the requirements of the task but remains at a functional level.

Coherence and Cohesion — Band 6.0

The letter is organized into logical paragraphs, which helps the reader follow the narrative. However, the use of cohesive devices is quite limited and sometimes mechanical. For example, the transition between the party and the return visit is abrupt. The referencing is occasionally unclear, such as in the phrase 'share the issue which I faced through by your staff'. While the overall progression is logical, the lack of varied linking words and occasional awkward phrasing prevents a higher score. Paragraphing is used appropriately to separate the introduction, the problem, the store visit, and the conclusion.

Lexical Resource — Band 5.5

The vocabulary is sufficient to convey the message but is quite basic and contains several errors in word choice and collocation. For instance, 'leader jacket' should be 'leather jacket', and 'denay to return' should be 'refused to return'. The phrase 'share the issue' is not the most natural choice for a formal complaint. There is little evidence of less common lexical items or idiomatic language. While the meaning is generally clear, the errors and limited range of vocabulary restrict the score to the 5.0-5.5 range.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 5.5

The response contains a mix of simple and complex sentences, but there are frequent grammatical errors that occasionally impede the flow. Examples include 'I went house' (should be 'I went home'), 'their is a hole which is backside' (should be 'there is a hole on the back'), and 'I extremely request you'. These errors in prepositions, articles, and word order are noticeable throughout the text. While the writer attempts to use complex structures, the control is inconsistent. The punctuation is generally functional, but the overall grammatical accuracy is limited.

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

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