Band 6.5 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 6.5 · Barron's Writing · 2026-09-05

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,

Hope this message finds you well.

I am writing this letter to bring to your attention an incident at your store.

I bought a jacket from your store last Wednesday. At first, it looked perfectly fine and undamaged. I was happy with it and took it home. To my surprise, after trying it on, I noticed a large hole around the armpit area. I didn't try to amend it.

I thought I had the right to return it as stipulated in your return policy. To my surprise again, I was denied this right. I tried to get an explanation as to why, but I was not offered any reply. I asked for a manager to explain the situation.

I would like a partial refund for the damaged jacket. I understand your return policy; however, I would like my consumer rights to be taken into consideration.

Thank you in advance for your time and understanding. Looking forward to hearing from you.

Best Wishes,

Jennifer

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 6.5

The letter addresses all three bullet points of the task: describing the defect, explaining the failed return attempt, and stating the desired outcome. The tone is appropriate for a formal letter of complaint. However, the development of ideas is somewhat brief. For instance, the explanation of the return attempt could be more detailed regarding the staff's reaction, and the request for a 'partial refund' is a bit unusual for a damaged item, which might have been better justified. Overall, the response is clear and fulfills the requirements of the prompt effectively.

Coherence and Cohesion — Band 7.0

The letter is well-organized with a clear logical progression. Each paragraph focuses on a specific aspect of the task, which helps the reader follow the narrative easily. Cohesive devices such as 'To my surprise' and 'however' are used effectively to link ideas. The opening and closing are appropriate for a formal letter. While the transition between paragraphs is smooth, the use of cohesive devices is somewhat standard; incorporating a wider variety of linking words could elevate the flow further.

Lexical Resource — Band 6.0

The vocabulary is sufficient for the task and conveys the message clearly. Phrases like 'stipulated in your return policy' and 'bring to your attention' demonstrate an appropriate formal register. There is some repetition of simple structures, such as 'To my surprise', which limits the range. To achieve a higher band, you should aim to incorporate more precise vocabulary related to retail and consumer rights, such as 'defective merchandise', 'store policy', or 'rectify the situation'. The current range is adequate but lacks sophistication.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 6.5

The writing displays a good mix of simple and complex sentence structures. Most sentences are grammatically accurate, and punctuation is generally correct. There are no significant errors that impede communication. However, the range of complex structures is somewhat limited. For example, the sentence 'I didn't try to amend it' is a bit simplistic. Using more varied subordinate clauses or passive voice constructions (e.g., 'The jacket was found to be damaged upon inspection') would demonstrate better control and range.

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

Browse more IELTS Writing model answers or get your own writing scored by the same AI examiner.