Band 5.0 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 5.0 · Barron's Writing · 2026-08-28

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 5.0)

Respected Sir,

I am writing this letter to return my recent bought new jacket but, it was damaged when l got at home. So, l bought this jacket on your shop last Wednesday, I was bought a black leather jacket at high price near about two thousand and I was check this but at that time jacket eas in good condition.

When I was reach at my house then I was opened this and the jacket leather at all side was damaged so that is why I want to returned it because this jacket fabric, leather was expired then please return it back and refund my two thousand money.

I was tried to return this, but your shopkeeper was told me that, it was against your policy, but I was cannot wear that jacket at once. So, please solve my issue.

I look forward hearing to you.

Yours faithfully

Yashandeep kaur

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 5.5

The letter covers all three bullet points: the problem is described, the interaction with the shopkeeper is explained, and a request for a refund is made. However, the tone is inconsistent and the language is often unnatural, which affects the clarity of the message. While the task requirements are met, the development of ideas is somewhat repetitive and lacks the professional tone expected in a formal letter of complaint. The purpose is clear, but the execution could be more precise to better meet the expectations of a formal business correspondence.

Coherence and Cohesion — Band 5.0

The letter is organized into a basic structure, but the paragraphing is ineffective. The text is essentially one long block, which makes it difficult to follow the logical progression of ideas. Cohesive devices are used, but they are often repetitive (e.g., 'I was', 'so') or misused, leading to a mechanical feel. Referencing is sometimes unclear, and the flow between sentences is disjointed. To improve, you should use clear paragraph breaks for each main point and vary your linking words to connect ideas more smoothly.

Lexical Resource — Band 5.0

The vocabulary is limited and contains several errors in word choice and collocation. For example, 'recent bought' should be 'recently purchased', and 'expired' is incorrectly used to describe leather. Phrases like 'near about two thousand' are informal and imprecise. While the meaning is generally understandable, the lack of variety and the frequent errors in basic word forms (e.g., 'returned' instead of 'return') indicate a limited range that struggles to convey a professional tone. Expanding your vocabulary to include more formal business-related terms would significantly improve your score.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 5.0

There are frequent grammatical errors throughout the text, particularly with verb tenses and sentence construction. The overuse of 'I was' (e.g., 'I was reach', 'I was opened') indicates a lack of control over basic English grammar. Many sentences are run-on or lack proper punctuation, which hinders readability. While you attempt to use complex structures, they are often faulty. To improve, focus on mastering simple sentence structures first, ensuring correct subject-verb agreement and tense usage, before attempting more complex grammatical forms.

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

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