Band 7.0 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 7.0 · 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 7.0)

Dear Sir,

I am writing to request a return of the jacket that I bought from your store yesterday.

The jacket I purchased was a black leather one and was on the sale. It seemed brand new when it was hanging on the hanger in the shop, but when I tried at home, I noticed the leather was ripped off from both arms, and color is faded from elbow area.

Immediately, I went to the store to make a return on the same day. Although, I was informed on that time that the store does not refund or return any sales item, which had not been informed earlier, and it is not mentioned on the receipt as well.

It feels unfair, since the jacket was defective and maybe that was the reason your sales team put on sale. I believe that it is a duty of cashiers to inform the customer about the defect and they should also mention that all sales item is final sale.

I would appreciate it if you could refund the paid money to me. Moreover, It would be great if you could install the signage mentioning about the store policy about all sales. Please let me know if you want me to fill the complaint form or you need any further information.

I look forward to your prompt response.

Yours faithfully,

PJ

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 7.5

You have successfully addressed all three bullet points in the prompt. You described the damage to the jacket clearly, explained the negative experience at the store, and provided a clear request for a refund. The tone is appropriate for a formal letter of complaint. The ideas are well-developed, and the purpose of the letter is clear from the beginning. You have maintained a consistent position throughout the response. To reach a higher band, ensure that your arguments regarding store policy are slightly more concise to allow for more sophisticated language elsewhere, but overall, you have fulfilled the requirements of the task effectively.

Coherence and Cohesion — Band 7.0

The letter is logically organized with a clear progression of ideas. Each paragraph focuses on a specific aspect of the task, which helps the reader follow your argument easily. You have used a range of cohesive devices such as 'Although', 'Moreover', and 'Since' to link your sentences and paragraphs. However, some transitions could be more natural; for instance, 'Immediately, I went to the store' is slightly abrupt. The paragraphing is appropriate for a formal letter, and the opening and closing salutations are correct. The overall structure is coherent and easy to follow throughout the text.

Lexical Resource — Band 6.5

You demonstrate a sufficient range of vocabulary to convey your message clearly. You use some specific terms like 'defective', 'merchandise', and 'prompt response'. However, there are some minor inaccuracies in word choice and collocation, such as 'ripped off from both arms' (should be 'ripped at the seams') and 'install the signage' (should be 'put up signs' or 'display a notice'). Additionally, 'all sales item' should be 'all sale items'. While these errors do not impede communication, they prevent the vocabulary from reaching a higher level of precision and sophistication.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 6.5

You use a mix of simple and complex sentence structures. While many sentences are clear and accurate, there are recurring grammatical slips. For example, 'was on the sale' should be 'was on sale', and 'all sales item is final sale' should be 'all sale items are final sale'. You also have some minor issues with article usage and pluralization. Despite these errors, the meaning is always clear, and the grammar does not hinder the reader's understanding. To improve, focus on subject-verb agreement and the correct use of articles with countable and uncountable nouns.

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

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