Band 6.5 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer

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

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 manager,

I hope you are doing well, I am writing to express my dissatisfaction of return policy about the recent purchase of a black jacket from your store.

I bought a piece of cloth from your shop on yesterday, However when I came to my home after shopping certainly I noticed something that right side of the pocket has a bigger hole that made me feel uncomfortable with this expensive brand.

Furthermore, when I visited your store today again in the morning in the matter of returning my purchase but I got to know that your store has no return or exchange policy which made my situation unfortunate.

I would really appreciate your help if you are able to find a solution of this problem as I already spent my all savings on this jacket. I am not considering to have full refund but if possible please exchange this jacket or either provide me half of my money back. I will be waiting for your response and thank you to have a look on this matter.

Best regards,

Sohi

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 7.0

The letter addresses all three bullet points: the problem is described (a hole in the pocket), the interaction with staff is explained, and a clear request for a solution is made. The tone is generally appropriate for a formal letter, although the opening is slightly informal. The ideas are relevant and well-developed, ensuring the reader understands the situation clearly. The purpose of the letter is consistent throughout, and the response effectively communicates the writer's frustration and desired outcome.

Coherence and Cohesion — Band 6.5

The letter is logically organized into clear paragraphs, each serving a specific purpose. The progression of ideas is easy to follow. However, the use of cohesive devices is somewhat mechanical and occasionally repetitive (e.g., 'Furthermore', 'However'). Some transitions are slightly awkward, such as 'in the matter of returning my purchase', which disrupts the flow. While the paragraphing is appropriate, the overall cohesion could be improved by using a wider variety of linking words and ensuring that sentences connect more naturally to one another.

Lexical Resource — Band 6.0

The vocabulary is adequate for the task, allowing the writer to convey their meaning clearly. There are some instances of slightly unnatural phrasing, such as 'piece of cloth' instead of 'item' or 'garment', and 'on yesterday', which is grammatically incorrect. The range of vocabulary is sufficient to express the situation, but it lacks the precision and sophistication required for higher bands. Some word choices, like 'unfortunate' to describe a policy, are slightly imprecise in this context.

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 'dissatisfaction of return policy' (should be 'with the return policy'), 'on yesterday' (should be 'yesterday'), and 'I am not considering to have' (should be 'I am not asking for'). Punctuation is also inconsistent, particularly with comma splices in the opening and second paragraph. While these errors do not impede communication, they occur frequently enough to prevent a higher score.

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

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