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 would like to express my dissatisfaction on recently purchased jacket from your store. Although I like the jacket's design, the jacket's pocket is damaged so it can not hold anything in it.

When I went back to a store for returning this damage piece, supervisor declined my return request. I try to explain my problem but he did not listening to me. His name is Harsh Patel. He informed me that the store's return policy is not allowing him to accept return.

I am expecting you to arrange a pickup request for returning this jacket. Therefore, I do not have to come back to store for returning item. I would like to take a full refund in my original payment method; however, I can also accept a store credit. If refund option is not available, I can accept replacement piece.

I am looking forward to return this damaged product as soon as possible.

Yours faithfully,

Yash

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 6.5

The letter addresses all three bullet points of the prompt: describing the damage, explaining the interaction with the supervisor, and stating the desired resolution. The tone is appropriate for a formal complaint. However, the development of ideas is somewhat brief. For instance, the description of the damage is limited to a single sentence, and the explanation of the interaction could be more detailed to better convey the frustration of the situation. Despite this, the purpose of the letter is clear, and the reader is left in no doubt about the writer's requirements.

Coherence and Cohesion — Band 7.0

The letter is logically organized into clear paragraphs, each serving a distinct purpose. The progression of ideas is easy to follow, moving from the problem to the store's response and finally to the requested solution. Cohesive devices are used, such as 'Although', 'When', and 'Therefore', which help link ideas effectively. However, some transitions feel slightly mechanical, and the use of referencing could be more varied to improve the flow between sentences. Overall, the structure is sound and supports the reader's understanding.

Lexical Resource — Band 6.0

The vocabulary is generally adequate for the task, allowing the writer to communicate their message clearly. There are some minor errors in word choice and collocation, such as 'dissatisfaction on' instead of 'dissatisfaction with' and 'damage piece' instead of 'damaged item'. While the range is sufficient to cover the requirements, it lacks the sophistication or precision that would elevate it to a higher band. The use of 'pickup request' and 'store credit' shows an attempt to use relevant business terminology, which is positive.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 6.0

The letter contains a mix of simple and complex sentence structures. There are several grammatical errors, such as 'on recently purchased jacket' (missing article), 'did not listening' (incorrect verb form), and 'come back to store' (missing article). While these errors are noticeable, they do not impede communication, and the meaning remains clear throughout. To improve, the writer should focus on article usage and consistent verb tense control, particularly when recounting past events.

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

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