Band 5.5 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 5.5 · Barron's Writing · 2026-08-25

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 in good spirits. I am writing to you this letter regarding the damaged jacket that I purchased from your store, which I visited a few days ago to return my jacket and I had such a bad experience with your staff members. Please consider my letter I will really appreciate it.

Here is the thing I bought the jacket and I was just at my home and I want to try it again. But I found that the piece of the jacket I selected was defective. As it is unworn from under the shoulder of the jacket and I bring the jacket back at the store yesterday and there is written on the ricepet that I can return it back if it is damage or any defective issues have. However, the staff over there were to rude to me when I showed them the damaged jacket they just directly denied to me a return. I aslo showed them the policy but they were not even listen me proper.

I just want from you either return my damaged jacket or

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 5.5

The letter covers all three bullet points: describing the defect, explaining the failed return attempt, and stating the desired outcome. However, the development is inconsistent. The description of the damage is somewhat vague ('unworn from under the shoulder'), and the letter ends abruptly mid-sentence, which leaves the final request incomplete. While the purpose is clear, the lack of a proper conclusion and the incomplete final sentence prevent the response from being fully developed. To reach a higher band, ensure all points are fully articulated and the letter is brought to a logical, complete close.

Coherence and Cohesion — Band 5.5

The letter is organized into paragraphs, but the flow is hindered by awkward phrasing and a lack of cohesive devices. Transitions between ideas are often missing or mechanical, such as 'Here is the thing'. The logical progression is interrupted by the abrupt ending of the text. While the reader can follow the narrative, the lack of sophisticated linking words and the incomplete structure make the overall coherence feel disjointed. Improving the use of transition signals like 'consequently', 'furthermore', or 'as a result' would significantly enhance the flow of the letter.

Lexical Resource — Band 5.0

The vocabulary is generally adequate for the task but lacks precision and variety. There are several errors in word choice and collocation, such as 'unworn from under the shoulder' (which is unclear) and 'ricepet' (spelling error for receipt). Phrases like 'they were to rude' (to instead of too) and 'not even listen me proper' demonstrate a limited range and inaccuracies that occasionally impede clarity. To improve, focus on using more precise terminology for retail issues and ensure correct word forms are used in context.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 5.0

The response relies heavily on simple sentence structures, and there are frequent grammatical errors throughout. Examples include 'I am writing to you this letter' (incorrect word order), 'I bring the jacket back' (incorrect tense), and 'any defective issues have' (awkward syntax). Punctuation is also inconsistent, with run-on sentences and missing commas. While the meaning is generally understandable, the high frequency of errors in basic grammar and sentence construction limits the score. Focusing on subject-verb agreement and consistent tense usage would be a beneficial next step.

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

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