Band 6.5 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 6.5 · Barron's Writing · 2026-09-28

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,

I hope this letter finds you well. I am writing this letter to complaint about a jacket which I bought from your store a couple of days ago. I hope you will understand my concerns about this issue.

I have been your regular customer from last few years.Your products and customer services are commendable. Furthermore, I recommend others to make a purchase at your outlet.

To begin with, I recently bought a leather jacket from your highway branch. At first, everything seemed to be perfect from its colour to its design. When I came home and opened the packing, I found both cuffs and collar were damaged. I made a swift move to return that piece at the store but one of the employers told me it could not be returned because it was a promotional item.

However, I request you to exchange this jacket because it is none of use ans only a waste of money in this condition. I would appreciate your immediate response on this matter.

I look forward to hearing from you.

Yours sincerely,

Madiha

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response: Band 6.5

The response successfully covers all three bullet points required by the task instructions. You clearly described the problem with the jacket, noting that 'both cuffs and collar were damaged.' You also explained what happened when you tried to return it, mentioning that an employee refused the return because it was a 'promotional item.' Furthermore, you clearly stated what you would like the manager to do by requesting an exchange. The tone is appropriate for a formal complaint letter, and the purpose is clear from the beginning. While some parts of the opening paragraph are slightly repetitive regarding your hopes, all prompt requirements are fully met, earning a strong band score.

Coherence and Cohesion: Band 6.5

The letter is logically organised with a clear beginning, middle, and end, following standard formal letter conventions. Paragraphing is used appropriately to separate your introduction, background details, the specific problem, your request, and your sign-off. Cohesive devices such as 'To begin with', 'Furthermore', and 'However' are employed to guide the reader through your arguments. However, referencing and transitions could be slightly smoother, such as connecting your opening pleasantries more naturally to the main body. Overall, the message flows well and information is easy to follow.

Lexical Resource: Band 6.0

You demonstrate a sufficient range of vocabulary for this task, successfully using terms like 'merchandise', 'commendable', 'promotional item', and 'appreciation'. There are a few minor lexical inaccuracies, such as writing 'to complaint' instead of 'to complain', and 'employers' instead of 'employees'. You also made a minor preposition or idiomatic error writing 'none of use' instead of 'no use' or 'useless'. Despite these occasional errors, the vocabulary is adequate to convey your message clearly and appropriately for a formal complaint letter.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy: Band 6.0

The response features a mix of simple and complex sentence structures, such as conditional and subordinate clauses like 'When I came home and opened the packing...' and 'I request you to exchange this jacket because it is none of use...'. There are some grammatical errors present, including 'from last few years' instead of 'for the past few years' and the aforementioned 'to complaint'. Punctuation is generally accurate, and your sentences remain easy to understand despite the occasional errors, meaning communication is never impeded.

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

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