Band 7.5 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 7.5 · Barron's Writing · 2026-09-02

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 7.5)

Dear Sir or Madam,

I am writing this letter to express my dissatisfaction with the recent purchase I made from your store on Sunday, 12th August.

I bought a black denim jacket on sale. Although I was not able to try it on because the trial room was fully occupied. After arriving home, I found out that the jacket's left arm was ripped from the inside. This is something I have never experienced before, as you have the best quality products.

Therefore, the very next day I went back to the store and told them what happened. But because it was a sale item, they refused to take it back. I tried to explain to them that the article was defective, which is why I am not okay with paying for it and would like my money back, or even a gift card would do so.

I understand store policies and procedures, but there should be a better solution to my concern. I hope you will be able to assist me with this. Looking forward to your reply.

Yours faithfully,

Komal Garg

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 8.0

The letter successfully addresses all three bullet points of the prompt. You clearly described the defect (a ripped left arm), explained the store's refusal to provide a refund due to the sale policy, and stated your desired outcome (a refund or gift card). The tone is appropriate for a formal complaint letter, and the purpose is clear from the beginning. The ideas are well-developed and the response is fully relevant to the task instructions provided.

Coherence and Cohesion — Band 8.0

The letter is logically organized with a clear progression of ideas. Each paragraph focuses on a specific aspect of the task, which helps the reader follow your argument easily. You use appropriate cohesive devices such as 'Although', 'Therefore', and 'I understand', which link your sentences and paragraphs effectively. The structure is professional and follows the standard conventions for a formal letter, ensuring that the information is presented in a coherent and easy-to-follow manner.

Lexical Resource — Band 7.0

You demonstrate a good range of vocabulary suitable for a formal complaint. Phrases like 'express my dissatisfaction', 'defective', and 'policies and procedures' are used accurately. While the vocabulary is functional and clear, it could be further enhanced with more sophisticated collocations to reach a higher band. For instance, instead of 'fully occupied', 'in use' or 'unavailable' would be more natural. Overall, the vocabulary is precise enough to convey your message without any ambiguity or errors that impede communication.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 7.0

You use a mix of simple and complex sentence structures effectively. There are some minor grammatical slips, such as the sentence fragment 'Although I was not able to try it on because the trial room was fully occupied.' This should be joined to the previous or following sentence to be grammatically complete. Additionally, 'would do so' is slightly unnatural in this context. However, the majority of your sentences are error-free, and your control over punctuation and tense usage is generally strong, which ensures the message is conveyed clearly.

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

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