Band 6.5 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 6.5 · Barron's Writing · 2026-10-08

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 am writing the letter regarding the problem I had recently faced. Last week I came for the shopping at your shop and bought a winter jacket. While buying it I checked it, but did not realised that I has a hole in it. After comming back home I discovered that jacket is damaged. It has a hole one the right shoulder, and it's pretty visible. So I can not ever were it.

When I went back to the store to return it, sales lady told me that this perticular brand items can not be returned. Even though I had a original bill and I went to return it on the same day.

Please help me with this situation. I have paid $150 for this jacket. If possible I would like to return it and want to buy brand new jacket or else please refund my money in cash or via gift card.

Thanking you in anticipation. I really appreciate your help.

Kind regards,

XYZ

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response: Band 7.0

You address all three required points: the jacket has a visible hole on the right shoulder, the sales assistant refused the return because of the brand’s policy, and you request an exchange or refund. Details such as the $150 price, original bill, and same-day return make the complaint specific and support your request. Your purpose and desired outcome remain clear throughout. To make the response more fully developed, explain briefly why the damage makes the jacket unusable or why the store should make an exception to its policy. A more direct, formal request to the manager would also strengthen the letter’s persuasive effect.

Coherence and Cohesion: Band 7.0

The letter follows a clear progression: you introduce the problem, describe the damage, explain the unsuccessful return attempt, and state the resolution you want. Paragraphing helps separate these stages, and linking expressions such as “When I went back” and “Even though” guide the reader through the events. The final thanks and sign-off also suit the letter format. Some connections are less smooth: “Even though I had a original bill…” is left as a fragment, and “Please help me with this situation” is a rather general transition into your request. Use complete sentences and a more explicit link between the refusal and the remedy you are seeking.

Lexical Resource: Band 5.5

You use enough vocabulary to communicate the complaint and requested outcome, including “damaged,” “visible,” “original bill,” “refund,” and “gift card.” These choices make the situation understandable, but the range is limited and several spelling, word-form, or collocation errors reduce accuracy, such as “comming,” “perticular,” and “brand new jacket.” Some phrases are also imprecise or informal for a complaint letter, including “came for the shopping” and “can not ever were it.” Choose more natural expressions and check spelling carefully; for example, describe the jacket as “unwearable” and say you “went shopping” or “purchased” it. This would make the letter more precise and appropriately formal.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy: Band 5.5

You attempt a mixture of simple and more complex sentences, including “While buying it I checked it…” and “Even though I had a original bill…”. The sequence of events is generally understandable, but errors in verb forms, articles, and sentence construction are noticeable. Examples include “did not realised” and “I has a hole,” where the verb forms do not fit the subject or auxiliary; “a original bill” also has an article error. The sentence beginning “Even though” is incomplete because it does not connect to a main clause. Practise checking subject–verb agreement, past-tense forms, and complete clause structure, while retaining some varied sentence patterns.

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