Band 6.0 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 6.0 · Barron's Writing · 2026-08-19

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 this letter to complaint about the jacket that i recently bought from your store. when i came back to home from store and tried to check then i saw that Zip of the jacket was damaged and i was not able to Zip it properly from bottom to top.

So when i saw that Zip was damaged then immediately i went straight to store so that it can be replaced as soon as possible. But when arrived at your store and tried to return the jacket they told me that the jacket cannot be returned as you go out of our store then we do not return the item.

Actually when i bought the jacket at that i was in hurry because of which i could not check the jacket properly. but at that time i was not told that we cannot return the jacket so that is why i am writing you this letter so that you can look into this matter and solve this matter as soon as possible i have all my bills for the jacket.

Looking forward to hear from you.

your faithfully,

Hem Singh

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 6.0

The letter covers all three bullet points: the problem is described, the interaction at the store is explained, and a request for action is made. However, the tone is inconsistent and lacks the formal register required for a letter to a manager. While the purpose is clear, the development of ideas is somewhat repetitive, particularly regarding the return policy. To reach a higher band, ensure the tone is consistently professional and the explanation of the store's refusal is more concise. The letter successfully communicates the situation, but the lack of formal conventions (such as a clear opening and closing) slightly impacts the overall task fulfilment.

Coherence and Cohesion — Band 6.0

The letter is organised into paragraphs, which helps the reader follow the narrative. However, the use of cohesive devices is limited and sometimes mechanical. For example, the frequent use of 'so' and 'but' to start sentences makes the flow feel simplistic. There is a lack of varied linking words or transition phrases that would connect the ideas more smoothly. Referencing is occasionally unclear, such as in the phrase 'when i came back to home from store', which lacks a clear subject or smooth transition. Improving the variety of cohesive devices would significantly enhance the logical flow of the letter.

Lexical Resource — Band 5.5

The vocabulary is adequate for the task but remains quite basic. There are several instances of word-choice errors, such as 'complaint' (should be 'complain') and 'your faithfully' (should be 'Yours faithfully'). The range of vocabulary is limited, relying on simple descriptors like 'damaged' and 'properly'. To improve, you should incorporate more precise language related to customer service, such as 'defective', 'refund', 'exchange', or 'policy'. While the meaning is generally clear, the lack of variety and the presence of basic errors in word form prevent a higher score in this criterion.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 5.5

There is a mix of simple and complex sentence structures, but the accuracy is inconsistent. Frequent errors include the misuse of capitalisation (e.g., 'i', 'Zip', 'store'), missing articles, and incorrect verb forms (e.g., 'I am writing this letter to complaint'). Punctuation is also problematic, with run-on sentences and a lack of commas where needed. While the meaning is rarely impeded, the high frequency of these small errors indicates a lack of control over basic grammatical rules. Focusing on sentence boundary punctuation and consistent capitalisation would lead to immediate improvement.

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

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