Band 6.0 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 6.0 · 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 6.0)

Dear Sir or Madam,

I am writing to express my concern about jacket which I bought from your store on Saturday.

As I reached home and opened the jacket I noticed one inside pocket was torn. Although from outside it was looking nice, inside pocket was not properly attached with inner stuff.

I immediately brought it to store on the same day. I was surprised when your employee refused to return it back. Even I showed bill to him on bill it was clearly mentioned that defective piece could return within 15 days. But he did not take my concern seriously. which made me upset.

I would be appreciated it if you could either replace this jacket or give me full refund.

I looking forward that you will resolve this issue as early as possible. it would be great if you need any information from me regarding this sale.

Yours Sincerely,

Jag

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 6.0

You have addressed all three bullet points required by the task: describing the defect, explaining the store's refusal, and stating your desired resolution. The tone is appropriate for a formal letter of complaint. However, the development of ideas is somewhat basic. For instance, the description of the defect ('inside pocket was torn') is clear, but could be more descriptive to emphasize the quality issue. The letter follows the required structure and covers all necessary information, meeting the requirements for a Band 6.0. To reach a higher band, ensure that the purpose of the letter is stated more clearly in the opening and that the tone remains consistently professional throughout.

Coherence and Cohesion — Band 6.0

The letter is organized into logical paragraphs, which helps the reader follow the narrative. You use some basic cohesive devices like 'Although' and 'However' (implied), but the flow between sentences is occasionally mechanical. For example, the transition between the description of the defect and the store visit is abrupt. There are also some issues with referencing, such as 'which made me upset' starting a new sentence fragment. Improving the use of linking words and ensuring that sentences are connected more fluidly would significantly improve the coherence of your writing.

Lexical Resource — Band 6.0

Your vocabulary is generally adequate for the task, allowing you to communicate your message clearly. You use some relevant terms like 'merchandise', 'defective', and 'refund'. However, there are some inaccuracies in word choice and collocation, such as 'inner stuff' (which is informal and vague) and 'return it back' (which is redundant). You also have minor errors in article usage, such as 'about jacket' instead of 'about the jacket'. To improve, focus on using more precise nouns and avoiding redundant phrases to demonstrate a wider range of vocabulary.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 5.5

You demonstrate a mix of simple and complex sentence structures, but there are frequent grammatical errors. Common issues include missing articles ('brought it to store', 'showed bill'), incorrect verb forms ('could return' instead of 'could be returned'), and punctuation errors, such as starting sentences with 'which'. While these errors do not prevent the reader from understanding your meaning, they are frequent enough to impact the overall fluency. To improve, pay closer attention to subject-verb agreement, the use of passive voice for formal complaints, and consistent article usage.

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

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