Band 6.5 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 6.5 · Barron's Writing · 2026-09-30

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 would like to draw your attention towards the damage in my jacket which I found after reaching home. When I tried to return it, it was denied by one of your employees.

I bought the jacket on September 29. I wore it on September 30th for a party. While wearing this jacket, I discovered that the inside pocket does not have a proper stitch, so the items were falling out of the pocket.

As I went back to return this jacket next day, the cashier on the counter does not accept its return. He mentioned the reason that this jacket was on a huge discounted price, so it could not follow the return policy of the store.

I would request you to either return or replace the jacket, because I have to put all my essential belongings in the inside pocket which I do not want to loose at any cost.

Looking forward to hearing from you soon.

Yours faithfully,

Rosa Elsa

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response: Band 7.5

The response successfully covers all three bullet points required in the prompt. You clearly describe the problem with the jacket regarding the poor stitching in the inside pocket, explain what happened when you tried to return it by mentioning the cashier's refusal due to the discount, and state what you would like the manager to do by requesting a return or replacement. The tone is appropriate for a formal complaint letter, and your purpose is clear throughout. To move towards a higher band, you could extend your ideas further by providing slightly more contextual detail about the purchase or the cashier's demeanor, ensuring every part of the prompt is fully developed with rich elaboration.

Coherence and Cohesion: Band 6.5

The letter maintains a coherent overall arrangement and logical progression. You use standard letter formatting and paragraphing effectively, with each paragraph focusing on a distinct point, such as the purchase date, the defect, the return attempt, and your desired resolution. However, cohesion can occasionally feel somewhat mechanical or repetitive, particularly in how sentences are linked together. For instance, transitioning between paragraphs could be smoother with more advanced cohesive devices rather than relying heavily on basic time markers. Improving the flow between your ideas and ensuring referencing is consistently tight will help lift this section further.

Lexical Resource: Band 6.0

You demonstrate an adequate range of vocabulary for the task, successfully communicating your message with terms like 'merchandise', 'essential belongings', and 'attention'. You attempt some less common vocabulary, but there are instances of slight inaccuracy or unnatural collocation, such as 'draw your attention towards' instead of 'draw your attention to', and 'on a huge discounted price' instead of 'at a heavily discounted price'. Additionally, there is a minor spelling error ('loose' instead of 'lose'). To achieve a higher band, focus on refining word choice and using more precise collocations appropriate for formal correspondence.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy: Band 6.5

Your letter shows a fair mix of simple and complex sentence forms, demonstrating decent control over grammar. Sentences such as 'While wearing this jacket, I discovered that the inside pocket does not have a proper stitch...' are well-structured. However, there are some errors in tense consistency and grammar, notably 'the cashier on the counter does not accept its return' where past tense is required ('did not accept'). There are also occasional awkward phrasings like 'could not follow the return policy'. Ensuring consistent verb tenses in narrative recounts and refining complex structures will help you secure a higher grade.

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

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