Band 5.0 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 5.0 · Barron's Writing · 2026-08-17

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 5.0)

Dear manager,

Hi, I hope you are doing well. I just want to say something about your store. I have bought one jacket from your store and it was damaged when I got that to my home it was damage and also on some area it was not proper stiches. So, after I see this thing I came with this thing to the store and I show them this problem but at the check out area they say that it will not return. I have tired so many time to talk with them about this problem but the employee are saying that it not there fault. I don't know what to do so I just write a letter to you because you can help we with this problem. So, I just want to like to share that please replace my jacket or give me any other clothes with this range. I would be pleasured to reply my letter.

Thank You

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 5.5

The letter addresses all three bullet points: describing the damage, explaining the refusal of the return, and requesting a resolution. However, the development of these points is quite basic. For instance, the description of the damage is vague ('not proper stiches'), and the explanation of the interaction at the store lacks detail regarding the tone or specific reasons provided by the staff. To reach a higher band, you should provide more specific details, such as the date of purchase or the specific nature of the defect, to make the letter more professional and persuasive.

Coherence and Cohesion — Band 5.0

The letter is logically organized, moving from the problem to the interaction and finally to the requested solution. However, the use of cohesive devices is very limited and repetitive. You rely heavily on simple conjunctions like 'and' and 'so'. There is a lack of sophisticated linking words or transitions to connect ideas smoothly. Furthermore, the paragraphing is non-existent; the entire letter is written as one block of text. Using clear paragraph breaks for each main point would significantly improve the structure and readability of your writing.

Lexical Resource — Band 5.0

The vocabulary is quite limited and repetitive, often relying on basic words like 'thing', 'problem', and 'clothes'. There are several instances of awkward phrasing, such as 'I have bought one jacket' (should be 'I purchased a jacket') and 'I would be pleasured to reply my letter' (which is grammatically incorrect and unnatural). To improve, you should focus on using more precise vocabulary related to retail and customer service, such as 'defective', 'exchange', 'store policy', and 'receipt'. The current range is just enough to convey the basic message but lacks the flexibility required for higher bands.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 5.0

There are frequent grammatical errors throughout the text, including issues with verb tense ('I have bought' instead of 'I bought'), word order, and sentence structure. For example, 'when I got that to my home it was damage' contains a tense error and an adjective/noun confusion. Many sentences are simple, and there is a lack of complex sentence structures. While the meaning is generally clear, the high frequency of errors in basic grammar (subject-verb agreement, articles, and word forms) prevents the writing from reaching a higher band. Focus on proofreading for basic tense consistency and sentence boundaries.

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

Browse more IELTS Writing model answers or get your own writing scored by the same AI examiner.