Band 6.0 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 6.0 · Barron's Writing · 2026-08-16

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 store manager

I hope this email finds you well

I am writing this email to express my profound dissatisfaction with my recent purchase I made on your store .

To explain with , I visited your store last month there was a 20 percent sale going on so I bought one leather black jacket . However, when I tried everything was so good so I bought it at my first sight as I always wanted to buy one of your leather jacket .

Therefore, when I tried it after reaching home the jacket was not in good condition . There were few different spots from where the leather was ripped as well as the zip was not working properly .

However, when I visited the store to replace it or return , The supervisor told me the items are final sale and cannot be taken back . To clarify on that , on your website it is claimed that all the items are accepted for returns within 15 days . Thus, I really want you to. look into this matter and provide me with my refund or replace it with new jacket .

Yours truly

Ritika

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 7.0

You have addressed all three bullet points required by the task: describing the problem, explaining the interaction with the supervisor, and stating your desired outcome. The tone is appropriate for a formal letter of complaint. However, the development of ideas is slightly uneven. For instance, the explanation of the return policy conflict is clear, but the description of the jacket's condition could be more precise. To reach a higher band, ensure that all parts of the prompt are balanced in length and detail. Overall, the purpose of the letter is clear and the reader is left in no doubt about the situation.

Coherence and Cohesion — Band 6.0

The letter follows a logical progression, moving from the purchase to the problem, the failed return attempt, and finally the requested resolution. Paragraphing is used to separate these ideas, which helps the reader follow your argument. However, the use of cohesive devices is somewhat mechanical and occasionally repetitive, such as the frequent use of 'However' and 'Therefore'. Some transitions are slightly awkward, like 'To explain with' and 'To clarify on that', which do not sound natural in formal English. Improving the variety of linking words would enhance the flow of the text.

Lexical Resource — Band 6.0

You have a sufficient range of vocabulary to convey your meaning, including terms like 'profound dissatisfaction', 'merchandise', and 'refund'. However, there are some inaccuracies in word choice and collocation. For example, 'on your store' should be 'at your store', and 'at my first sight' is not a standard idiomatic expression. Additionally, the phrasing 'items are final sale' is slightly informal. While the vocabulary is adequate for the task, it lacks the precision and flexibility required for higher bands. Focusing on common collocations and more natural phrasing will help improve your score.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 5.5

You demonstrate a mix of simple and complex sentence structures. While the meaning is generally clear, there are frequent errors in punctuation and grammar. For example, there are missing articles ('a new jacket'), incorrect preposition usage ('on your store'), and issues with sentence boundaries, such as run-on sentences or fragments. The lack of proper punctuation, particularly with commas and periods, makes the text feel disjointed. To improve, pay closer attention to subject-verb agreement and the correct use of articles, and ensure that each sentence is grammatically complete.

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

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