Band 6.0 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 6.0 · Barron's Writing · 2026-10-07

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 6.0)

Dear Sir or Madam,

I am writing to formally request to you to accept the return on my recently purchased jacket from your store.

Last week a bought a black colour leather jacket, but when I returned home,and tried the jacket it is torn from the back side. I feel very dissapointed, because it was one of my most expensive purchase. Moreover, the zip inside the jacket pocket is not working properly.

When I went to the store to return the jacket an employee told me that it is against our policy. Although when i showed him the receipt in which clearly mentioned that items can be return within in thirty days. But he didnot listen to me and refused to exchange.

I request to you kindly help me out. If possible provide me the another peice of same jacket as i really like it. I would appreciate it if you could assisy me.

I look forward to hearing from you.

Kind regards,

Kajal Kumari

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response: Band 7.0

The letter addresses all three required points and maintains a clear, polite request throughout. You describe the jacket as torn at the back and mention that the pocket zip does not work; you also explain that an employee refused a return despite the receipt stating a 30-day return period. Your preferred solution—receiving another jacket of the same kind—is specific and relevant. These details make the purpose clear and support your complaint. To strengthen the response further, develop the requested action slightly: for example, clarify whether you would accept a replacement only or would prefer a refund if one is unavailable. Overall, the task is fully covered, with the main ideas extended sufficiently.

Coherence and Cohesion: Band 6.5

The letter follows a sensible sequence: you state your purpose, describe the defects, recount the store visit, and make a request before closing. Paragraphing helps distinguish these stages, and phrases such as “Moreover” and “I look forward to hearing from you” support the progression. This clear organisation is already effective. However, some links are awkward or mechanical, particularly “Although when I showed him the receipt,” which does not connect smoothly to the preceding sentence. The final request also repeats the appeal for help without adding much new information. Use more natural transitions and make the relationship between the receipt and the refusal explicit to create a more consistently fluent progression.

Lexical Resource: Band 5.5

You use enough vocabulary to communicate the complaint and desired outcome, including “formally request,” “refused to exchange,” and “receipt.” The tone is generally appropriate for a letter to a manager. However, several noticeable word-choice, collocation, and spelling problems limit precision: “accept the return on” is unnatural, “black colour leather jacket” is awkward, and “dissapointed,” “peice,” and “assisy” are misspelled. “Most expensive purchase” also needs a more natural form in this context. These errors do not prevent the reader from understanding the complaint, but they make the letter less polished. Practise common complaint-letter phrases and proofread spelling and word forms carefully.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy: Band 5.5

The response includes both straightforward statements and attempts at more complex structures, such as “Although when I showed him the receipt…” and “I would appreciate it if you could…”. The intended meaning is generally understandable, but the complex sentence is not correctly formed, and errors occur in basic sentence patterns too. For example, “a bought” should be “I bought,” while “items can be return” needs a passive form, “items can be returned.” There are also problems with articles and sentence boundaries in “provide me the another…” and “home,and tried.” These recurring errors reduce grammatical control. Build accuracy with complete clauses and practise passive forms, articles, and punctuation before adding more complex structures.

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