Band 5.0 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 5.0 · Barron's Writing · 2026-08-22

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 Sir,

The purpose of my letter is to register a complaint regarding the jacket, which was damaged; I bought recently from your store Leela clothing which is located inside Square One mall.

The blazer which i have purchased from your store has a hole inside the right hand pocket for which i have asked the store attendant to return or exchange, but he refused saying that this was the final sale.

Needless to say, being a loyal customer; I request you to initiate a return process or g

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 4.0

The response fails to meet the minimum word count requirement of 150 words, as it is only 89 words long and ends abruptly mid-sentence. While you have addressed the first two bullet points (describing the problem and the store's response), the final requirement—stating what you would like the manager to do—is incomplete. Because the letter is significantly under-length and unfinished, it does not fully address the task requirements. To improve, ensure you develop each point with sufficient detail and provide a complete, formal closing to your letter.

Coherence and Cohesion — Band 5.0

The letter shows a basic attempt at logical organization, with an introduction and a body paragraph. However, the abrupt ending severely disrupts the flow and coherence of the text. Cohesive devices are limited; for example, the use of 'Needless to say' is a good attempt at a transition, but the overall structure is incomplete. To improve, ensure that your ideas are fully developed within clear paragraphs and that you use a wider range of linking words to connect your points logically. The lack of a proper conclusion also negatively impacts the overall coherence.

Lexical Resource — Band 5.0

The vocabulary used is adequate for the task but lacks the range and precision expected at higher levels. You used some relevant terms like 'register a complaint' and 'loyal customer', which is positive. However, there are some awkward phrasings, such as 'the jacket, which was damaged; I bought recently', where the punctuation and word order are slightly unnatural. To improve, focus on using more varied and precise vocabulary related to retail and customer service, and ensure that your word choices are consistently accurate and appropriate for a formal letter.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 5.0

The response contains several grammatical errors, including punctuation issues (e.g., the semicolon usage after 'customer') and capitalization errors (e.g., 'i' instead of 'I'). The sentence structures are relatively simple, and the incomplete final sentence makes it difficult to assess your ability to use complex structures effectively. To improve, pay closer attention to basic grammar rules, such as subject-verb agreement and proper capitalization. Additionally, try to incorporate a mix of simple and complex sentence structures to demonstrate a wider grammatical range while ensuring that your punctuation is accurate.

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

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