Band 6.5 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 6.5 · Barron's Writing · 2026-09-01

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 6.5)

Dear Sir or Madam,

I am writing to express my dissatisfaction with my recent purchase of a jacket from your store located at Surrey central mall on date 22 August 2026.

Regarding the problem, the jacket which i bought is a brand new leather jacket which initially found to be in good condition. However, while trying it first time on the following day, I discovered that its zip of the article is not working properly and it got stucked in between, making it difficult for me to use it on the regular basis. Moreover, I found one of its sleeves have a a rust marks from inside which was never expected.

While returning the merchandise, at your store the sales assistant refuse to receive it stating that, the articles can only be return or exchange on the basis of manufacturing effect.

I am requesting you to kindly resolve the matter as soon as possible, as the article have 3 months warranty. I have attached a copy of the bill for your reference.

Thank You

Your truelly

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 7.0

The letter covers all three bullet points required by the task. You clearly describe the defects (the faulty zip and rust marks), explain the interaction with the sales assistant, and state your desired outcome. The tone is appropriate for a formal letter of complaint. To reach a higher band, you could provide more specific details about the 'manufacturing effect' mentioned by the assistant or elaborate on the inconvenience caused by the faulty jacket to further develop your ideas.

Coherence and Cohesion — Band 6.5

The letter is logically organised with a clear introduction, body paragraphs, and a closing. Each paragraph focuses on a specific aspect of the prompt. You use some cohesive devices like 'Regarding the problem', 'However', and 'Moreover' to link ideas. However, the flow is occasionally hindered by minor errors in sentence structure and punctuation. The paragraphing is appropriate, and the overall progression of the letter is easy to follow.

Lexical Resource — Band 6.0

You demonstrate an adequate range of vocabulary for the task, such as 'dissatisfaction', 'merchandise', and 'warranty'. There are some inaccuracies, such as 'stucked' (should be 'stuck') and 'rust marks' (should be 'rust stains'). Additionally, 'manufacturing effect' is likely a misuse of 'manufacturing defect'. While these errors are present, they do not impede communication, and the vocabulary is sufficient to convey your message effectively.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 6.0

You use a mix of simple and complex sentence structures. There are several grammatical errors, such as subject-verb agreement issues ('one of its sleeves have' instead of 'has') and article usage ('a a rust marks'). You also have some tense inconsistencies, such as 'the sales assistant refuse' instead of 'refused'. While these errors are noticeable, the meaning remains clear throughout the letter. Increasing your control over verb tenses and pluralisation would improve your score.

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

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