Band 6.5 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 6.5 · Barron's Writing · 2026-09-16

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 or Madam,

I am writing this letter to express my disappointment with my recent purchase. I recently purchased a winter jacket from your shop.It is a grey colored long jacket. The reciept number is [redacted phone].

The jacket fits me good. Unfortunately I am not satisfied with the zip of the product. It is too difficult to close the zip has it is too hard. Along with that, I have noticied that jacket has no pockets. I bought this jacket specially for winters and it will be difficult to wear it without pockets.

Today, I went to return the product at store. However, your staff denied to accept return. They were requesting for physical form of receipt, not digital copy.

I would like you to look into this matter and solve my concern. I would be satisfied if you could approve my return or replace the product with the another jacket. I am attaching a payment receipt with this email for your reference.

I am looking forward to hearing from you.

Yours faithfully,

Anjali

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 7.0

The response effectively covers all bullet points required in the prompt. You successfully describe the problem with the jacket, mentioning both the faulty zip and the missing pockets. You also clearly explain what happened when you tried to return it at the store, noting the staff's refusal due to the lack of a physical receipt. Finally, you state what you would like the manager to do by requesting either a return or a product replacement. The tone is appropriate for a formal complaint letter, and all ideas are relevant and adequately developed to meet the requirements of General Training Task 1.

Coherence and Cohesion — Band 6.5

The letter has a clear overall progression and logical organization. It follows a standard formal letter layout with an appropriate greeting and sign-off. Paragraphing is used effectively to separate different points, such as the product description, the specific defects, the store visit, and your desired outcome. Cohesive devices are generally used appropriately, though there are occasional minor mechanical transitions, such as 'Along with that,' which slightly affect the flow. Referencing is mostly clear, and the logical sequence ensures the reader can easily follow your narrative.

Lexical Resource — Band 6.0

The lexical resource is adequate for the task, successfully conveying your message. You use some appropriate vocabulary related to shopping and complaints, such as 'disappointment,' 'purchase,' and 'receipt.' However, there are a few lexical inaccuracies and spelling errors, such as 'reciept,' 'noticied,' and the misuse of 'has it is' instead of 'because it is.' While these errors do not impede communication, they prevent the lexical score from reaching a higher band. Incorporating more precise, less common vocabulary would enhance this criterion.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 6.0

You demonstrate a mix of simple and complex sentence forms, such as conditional ideas and infinitive structures ('I would be satisfied if you could...'). There are several grammatical errors and awkward phrasings, including 'fits me good' (should be 'fits me well'), 'the zip has it is too hard' (run-on/grammatical slip), and 'denied to accept return' (should be 'denied the return' or 'refused to accept the return'). Punctuation is generally acceptable, though there is a missing period in the first paragraph. These errors occur frequently enough to place the writing firmly in Band 6.

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

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