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/madam,

i a writing this letter to express my dissatisification that i faced while purchasing a jacket form your store.

Last sunday, I bought a black lether jacket from your manish store that is located near to main bazar. But i am disappointed from this jacket becuase its colour was faint when i washed it along with it shrink by its size.

after finding these mence, I dicided to return it however, when I reached at shop, shopkeaper told me it cannot return due to some policy. I again request to the supervisor becuase it ws very costly and he also told me we cannot return it.

I would like to request to manager to solve this problem as i could not keep it. I would appriciate if he assist me to exhange or return it.

I am waiting for you prompt and I hope you will tak eit seriously.

Yours faithfully,

gurpreet

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response: Band 6.5

You address all three required points: the jacket’s colour faded and it shrank after washing, the shopkeeper and supervisor refused the return, and you ask the manager to arrange an exchange or refund. The purpose is clear and the details about the purchase and attempted return make the complaint relevant. The request, however, could be more fully developed: explain whether you prefer a refund or replacement, and state what outcome you expect from the manager. The description of the damage is also brief, with little detail about when you noticed it or how it affects the jacket. This covers the task well overall, while some points remain less developed.

Coherence and Cohesion: Band 6.5

The letter follows a sensible sequence: purchase and damage, attempted return, then the requested solution. Paragraph breaks help distinguish these stages, and linking words such as “however” and “I would like to request” make the purpose easy to follow. Some connections are mechanical or unclear, particularly “after finding these mence,” which does not clearly introduce the return attempt, and “along with it shrink by its size,” where the relationship between the two defects is difficult to follow. The closing also moves abruptly from the request to “I am waiting for you prompt.” Clearer transitions and more precise references would make the progression smoother and more flexible.

Lexical Resource: Band 5.0

You use vocabulary relevant to a complaint, including “dissatisfaction,” “supervisor,” “policy,” and “exchange or return,” so the reader can identify the situation and requested remedy. However, the range is limited, and several spelling and word-choice errors make parts of the letter difficult to understand: “dissatisification,” “form,” “lether,” “becuase,” and “mence.” Some phrases are also unnatural, such as “faint” for a colour that has lost intensity and “return it” when referring to the store’s policy. Check spelling carefully and learn common complaint collocations, such as “the colour faded” and “request a refund.” More precise vocabulary would improve clarity and tone.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy: Band 5.0

You attempt both simple and joined sentences, for example, “I bought a black… jacket” and the sentence beginning “I would like to request…,” but control is uneven. Errors in sentence structure and verb forms appear in “i a writing this letter” and “it shrink by its size”; the latter needs a past-tense verb and a clearer construction. There are also problems with articles, agreement, and punctuation, including inconsistent capitalisation of “I” and sentence openings such as “after finding.” These errors sometimes make the reader pause, although the main message remains understandable. Practise accurate past-tense reporting and build longer sentences from a clear subject and verb before adding details.

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

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