Band 6.5 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 6.5 · Barron's Writing · 2026-09-22

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 Store Manager,

I hope you are doing well. My name is Nirma and I am writing to share a cencern about a jacket that I purchased earlier this week. The jacket article number is jk542-M and it is black in color.

I visited your main city branch near the museum. In the store,I readlly liked this jacket and when I tried, I immediately made a decision to buy it. The jacket was completely fine at that time. However, when I got home and opened the packaging, I found that the front zip of the jacket is not functioning. It is jammed. The next day, I visited the store with the intension of returning. Nevertheless, I was told returning items is against the store's policy.

I understand that as per your policy an item cannot be returned without a valid reason. In my case, I was packed a damaged article that is of no use to me. It would be great if you could compensate me by refunding the amount that was charged or if the similar article is in stock, I am more than happy for replacement.

I hope you will resolve me issue on an urgent basis.

I look forward to you swift response.

Kind regards,

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AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 6.5

You have successfully covered all three bullet points required by the prompt. You described the problem clearly by stating that the front zip of the jacket is jammed and not functioning. You explained what happened when you tried to return it, mentioning that store staff refused the return citing company policy. Finally, you clearly stated what you would like the manager to do, asking for either a full refund or a replacement. The tone is appropriate for a formal complaint letter, and your purpose is clear throughout the text. Your ideas are well-developed and directly address the requirements of a General Training Task 1 response.

Coherence and Cohesion — Band 7.0

Your letter has a clear and logical organisation from beginning to end. The paragraphs are structured effectively, separating the introduction, the problem description, the attempted return, the desired solution, and the closing remarks. You use cohesive devices such as 'However', 'Nevertheless', and 'In my case' to guide the reader smoothly through the narrative. Paragraphing is used appropriately, and referencing throughout the text remains clear. Although some transitions are quite standard, the overall progression of information is very easy to follow and meets the criteria for a well-organised letter.

Lexical Resource — Band 6.0

You demonstrate a sufficient range of vocabulary for the task with some attempts at less common items, such as 'functioning', 'compensate', and 'urgent basis'. There are a few spelling and word-choice errors, such as 'cencern' instead of concern, 'readlly' instead of really, 'intension' instead of intention, and 'me issue' instead of my issue. However, these errors do not impede communication, and the meaning remains clear throughout the letter. Using more precise collocations and checking spelling carefully will help elevate your lexical score in future writing tasks.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 6.0

You demonstrate a good mix of simple and complex sentence forms, including conditional structures and relative clauses, such as 'I understand that as per your policy an item cannot be returned without a valid reason.' There are some minor grammatical errors and awkward phrasing, such as 'I was packed a damaged article', which should be passive ('I was given' or 'I was sold'), and 'you swift response', which should be 'your swift response'. Despite these occasional inaccuracies, your control of grammar and punctuation is generally good, and the majority of your sentences communicate your message effectively without confusion.

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

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