Band 6.5 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 6.5 · Barron's Writing · 2026-09-11

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/Madam,

I hope you are doing well. I am writing this letter regarding my experience at your store.

I purchased an ABC brand jacket on 7 September 2026. It was in beige colour and has two pockets, left and right sides, respectively. However, the zip on the left-side pocket does not work properly and when I put my hand in it, I found the pocket was torn, which was very disappointing.

After finding this, I visited the store again and explained everything to the shift supervisor there, he refused to offer either a replacement or a return. Even though he started blaming me for the same thing that I did at home.

I would like to draw your attention to the behaviour of this staff member as it will put impact on your store's reputation and customer service. I would appreciate it if your prompt attention to this matter and train him properly for the future.

Thank you for your time.

Yours sincerely,

Puneet Kaur

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 6.5

The letter addresses all three bullet points required by the prompt. You clearly describe the defect in the jacket, explain the negative interaction with the supervisor, and state your desired outcome. The tone is appropriate for a formal complaint. However, the final request is slightly underdeveloped; while you mention training the staff member, you do not explicitly state that you want a refund or a replacement for the damaged item, which is a key expectation in a letter of this nature. To reach a higher band, ensure your desired resolution is stated clearly and directly.

Coherence and Cohesion — Band 7.0

The letter is logically organized with a clear introduction, body paragraphs, and a formal closing. Each paragraph focuses on a specific aspect of the task. Cohesive devices are used, such as 'However,' 'After finding this,' and 'Even though,' which help the flow of ideas. However, some transitions are slightly mechanical, and the connection between the staff's behavior and your request for training could be smoother. The paragraphing is appropriate, and the overall progression of the narrative is easy to follow.

Lexical Resource — Band 6.0

You demonstrate a sufficient range of vocabulary to convey your message clearly. Phrases like 'regarding my experience' and 'draw your attention to' are appropriate for a formal letter. There are some minor collocation issues, such as 'put impact on' (should be 'have an impact on') and 'blaming me for the same thing that I did' (which is slightly unclear). While the vocabulary is adequate for the task, it lacks the precision and sophistication required for higher bands. Expanding your use of topic-specific collocations would improve this score.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 6.0

You use a mix of simple and complex sentence structures. There are several grammatical errors, such as 'It was in beige colour' (should be 'It is beige' or 'It is in a beige color'), 'he refused to offer either a replacement or a return' (a comma splice error), and 'I would appreciate it if your prompt attention' (should be 'I would appreciate your prompt attention'). While these errors do not impede communication, they occur frequently enough to prevent a higher score. Focusing on subject-verb agreement and sentence boundary punctuation will help improve your accuracy.

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

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