Band 6.0 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 6.0 · Barron's Writing · 2026-09-07

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,

I am writing to complaint about the jacket i bought from your store recently. Unfortunately, when i reached home and i checked the jacket more carefully. I came to realize that one of its pocket is quite ripped. It looks like the stiching is unfinished.

I purchased this jacket from your store on 5th September. I was in hurry, so i could not get to check it properly. I went back to the store on the following day, but the available staff refused to take it back. i was very disappointed because the jacket was already torn. And i believe could should get the products in a good condition.

I would therefore appreciate, if you can look into this matter and provide me with the replacement or a refund. I still posses the original receipt for your consideration.

I am hoping that this matter will be resolves as soon as possible.

your faithfully.

I

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 6.5

The letter addresses all three bullet points required by the task: describing the damaged jacket, explaining the failed return attempt, and requesting a resolution. The tone is appropriate for a formal letter of complaint. However, the development of ideas is somewhat basic. For instance, the explanation of the return attempt could be more detailed regarding the staff's reasoning. While the purpose is clear and the requirements are met, the response lacks the depth of development that would elevate it to a higher band. The structure is logical, and the reader is left in no doubt about the writer's intentions.

Coherence and Cohesion — Band 6.0

The letter is organized into clear paragraphs, which helps the reader follow the narrative. There is a logical progression from the problem to the store visit and finally the requested action. However, the use of cohesive devices is somewhat limited and occasionally mechanical. For example, the transition between the description of the jacket and the store visit is abrupt. While the paragraphing is sufficient, the flow between sentences could be improved by using a wider variety of linking words (e.g., 'consequently', 'furthermore', 'nevertheless') to create a more cohesive and professional tone.

Lexical Resource — Band 6.0

The vocabulary is adequate for the task, allowing the writer to communicate the situation clearly. There are some attempts at more specific vocabulary, such as 'merchandise' (implied) or 'consideration', but the range is generally limited to common, everyday words. There are also some minor errors in word choice and form, such as 'I am writing to complaint' (should be 'complain') and 'I still posses' (should be 'possess'). While these errors do not impede communication, they indicate a need for more precision and a wider range of lexical items to achieve a higher score.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 5.5

The letter contains a mix of simple and complex sentence structures. However, there are frequent grammatical errors, particularly with verb forms and punctuation. Examples include 'one of its pocket is' (should be 'pockets are'), 'I was in hurry' (should be 'in a hurry'), and 'could should get' (a clear error). Additionally, there are issues with capitalization (e.g., 'i' instead of 'I') and sentence fragments. While the meaning remains clear throughout, the frequency of these errors prevents the writing from reaching a higher band. More attention to subject-verb agreement and basic proofreading would significantly improve the accuracy.

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

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