Band 5.5 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 5.5 · Barron's Writing · 2026-08-24

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 5.5)

Dear Sir or Madam,

I hope you are well. I am writing this letter to share my concern about the problem with the jacket.

Recently, I bought a jacket from your store, but when I got home, I discovered it was damaged. It is brown color leather jacket with one zip and two small pockets and long sleeves. But I discovered one damage that the big scratch on the right side small pocket. Apart from that, one sleeve is perfect and another is little bit small. So basically, I found two problems with jacket. My jacket is too expensive.

Furthermore, I was going at your store back to return the jacket, your store merchandise say that it can not be returned. I never idea that there is no exchange policy and return policy at your store.

I would like to the manger to take my problem seriously and accept my jacket. Because the jacket is too expensive and spend more money on it. In addition, I want to full refumd o

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 5.5

You have addressed all three bullet points: describing the damage, explaining the store's refusal, and stating your desired outcome. However, the development of these points is somewhat limited. The description of the jacket is a bit repetitive, and the explanation of the store's refusal lacks detail regarding the interaction. Furthermore, the letter ends abruptly mid-sentence, which prevents a full resolution of the task. To improve, ensure that each point is fully developed with clear, coherent sentences and that the letter reaches a natural conclusion. The tone is generally appropriate for a formal letter, but the lack of a complete closing statement affects the overall task completion.

Coherence and Cohesion — Band 6.0

The letter is organized into paragraphs, which helps the reader follow the structure. However, the use of cohesive devices is quite basic and sometimes mechanical, such as the repetitive use of 'but' and 'and'. The transition between the description of the jacket and the store's policy is abrupt. Additionally, the abrupt ending of the letter significantly disrupts the flow and logical progression of the text. To improve, try using a wider variety of linking words and phrases, such as 'consequently', 'furthermore', or 'in light of this', to connect your ideas more fluidly and ensure the letter has a clear beginning, middle, and end.

Lexical Resource — Band 5.5

Your vocabulary is generally adequate for the task, but it is quite limited and repetitive. You rely on simple descriptors like 'perfect', 'small', and 'expensive'. There are also some noticeable errors in word choice and collocation, such as 'I never idea' instead of 'I had no idea' and 'merchandise say' instead of 'staff said'. The phrase 'full refumd o' is incomplete and contains a spelling error. To reach a higher band, focus on using more precise vocabulary related to retail and product quality, and ensure that your word forms are accurate.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 5.5

You use a mix of simple and some attempted complex sentence structures. However, there are frequent grammatical errors that occasionally impede clarity, such as 'I was going at your store back to return' and 'one sleeve is perfect and another is little bit small'. There are also issues with articles ('the big scratch') and verb tenses. The incomplete final sentence is a major grammatical issue. To improve, focus on basic sentence construction, subject-verb agreement, and ensuring that your sentences are complete. Proofreading for common errors like missing articles and incorrect prepositions will help improve your accuracy.

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

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