Band 6.0 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 6.0 · Barron's Writing · 2026-08-29

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,

Hope you are doing well; I am writing this letter to inform you that I recently bought a jacket from your store on last Sunday and It is one of my favorite jackets. So, when I try to wear it at my home to show my family than I realized that the pockets of the jacket were stitched by the maker mistakenly.

Immediately, next morning I visited the store again to change my jacket, and the staff told me about "No Return" policy of the store. So, I wander if you could please let me change the jacket as It was My Birthday present which I gave it to My self on that day. I have all the receipts and Tags which store gave it to me at time of purchase. Apart from that, I also have the cover of the jacket which store gave me to place jacket.

I am very grateful to you if this will happen.

Himanshu sadioura

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 outcome. The tone is appropriate for a formal letter of complaint. However, the development of ideas is somewhat limited. For example, you mention the pockets were stitched mistakenly, but providing more detail about the nature of the damage would have strengthened the letter. Additionally, the request for action is slightly vague; specifying whether you want a refund or an exchange would make your purpose clearer. Overall, the task is fulfilled, but the content could be more precise and professional to ensure a more effective outcome.

Coherence and Cohesion — Band 6.0

The letter follows a logical progression, moving from the purchase to the problem, the interaction with staff, and finally the request. Paragraphing is present, though the structure is a bit cramped. You use some cohesive devices like 'Immediately' and 'Apart from that', but the flow between sentences is occasionally hindered by awkward phrasing, such as 'So, when I try to wear it... than I realized'. The use of referencing is generally clear, but the overall cohesion would benefit from more varied linking words and smoother transitions between your points to improve the readability of the letter.

Lexical Resource — Band 6.0

Your vocabulary is generally adequate for the task, allowing you to convey the situation clearly. You use some relevant terms like 'merchandise', 'purchase', and 'receipts'. However, there are some inaccuracies in word choice and collocation, such as 'stitched by the maker mistakenly' (which sounds unnatural) and 'I wander if you could' (should be 'wonder'). The phrasing 'cover of the jacket' is also imprecise; 'garment bag' or 'packaging' would be more appropriate. To reach a higher band, focus on using more precise vocabulary related to retail and customer service contexts.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 5.5

You demonstrate a mix of simple and complex sentence structures. However, there are frequent grammatical errors that occasionally distract the reader. Issues include tense inconsistencies ('I try to wear' instead of 'I tried'), incorrect article usage, and punctuation errors, such as unnecessary capitalization ('My Birthday', 'My self'). There are also errors in sentence construction, such as 'I am very grateful to you if this will happen', which is not a standard way to express a request. While these errors do not completely impede communication, they occur frequently enough to limit your score in this criterion.

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

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