Band 7.0 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 7.0 · 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 7.0)

Dear Sir or Madam,

I am writing this letter to express my disappointment with the product that I bought from your store situated at PVR Mall.

On Friday evening, I bought a jacket from Levi's, and when I returned home, I noticed there was a defect in the jacket: there was a big cut near the arm, and it was quite noticeable. Another issue was that the zip was also not working properly, as it was stuck halfway when I tried to close it.

Therefore, I made up my mind to return the jacket as it was so expensive. However, on my return, I was told that the store was not able to process my return, and I had to talk to the company head. Levi's is such a renowned brand, and my friends and I were regular customers of this particular store. I am really hoping you can sort out the issue, maybe by giving a complete refund or providing a voucher. Therefore, we can not loose trust in such a big brand.

I am looking forward to hearing from you as soon as possible with good news.

Yours faithfully,

Roop Kaur

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 7.5

The letter successfully addresses all three bullet points of the prompt. You clearly described the defects (the cut and the faulty zip), explained the negative experience at the store, and stated your desired resolution (refund or voucher). The tone is appropriate for a formal complaint letter, and the purpose is clear from the beginning. To reach a higher band, you could provide slightly more detail regarding the date of purchase or the specific name of the staff member you spoke to, which would add to the realism and development of the task.

Coherence and Cohesion — Band 7.0

The letter is well-organized with a logical progression of ideas. Each paragraph has a clear focus: the introduction, the description of the problem, the store's response, and the proposed solution. You use cohesive devices such as 'Therefore,' 'However,' and 'as well as' to link your sentences effectively. The paragraphing is appropriate for a formal letter. To improve, ensure that the transition between the store's refusal and your request for a resolution is slightly smoother to avoid a repetitive use of 'Therefore' at the start of sentences.

Lexical Resource — Band 6.5

You demonstrate a sufficient range of vocabulary to convey your message clearly. Phrases like 'renowned brand,' 'process my return,' and 'express my disappointment' are well-chosen and appropriate for the context. There is one minor error with the word 'loose' (should be 'lose'), which is a common spelling mistake. While the vocabulary is functional and accurate, incorporating a few more sophisticated collocations or idiomatic expressions related to customer service would help elevate the lexical range to a higher band.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 7.0

You use a mix of simple and complex sentence structures effectively. Most of your sentences are error-free, and your control of punctuation is generally good. There is a minor grammatical slip in the phrase 'we can not loose trust,' where 'lose' is the correct verb form. Additionally, the sentence 'Therefore, we can not loose trust in such a big brand' is slightly awkward in its placement. Overall, your grammar is accurate enough that it never impedes communication, and you show a good command of formal sentence construction.

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

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