Band 6.5 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer

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

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 to formally express my dissatisfaction about a purchase I have made in your store, since it was a defective piece of cloth.

I bought a blue colour denim jacket from your shop yesterday around 1 pm, the payment was made by my credit card ending with 7745. I had to wear this jacket for a themed anniversary party, held tomorrow, by my cousin. The employee did not allowed me to try the jacket on me, as she said fitting room is out of service. Thereby, I purchased the outfit without trying it. However, after reaching home when I tried to wear it and puts my hands in the pockets, I figured out one of the pocket is having a hole. I was divastated.

Same day after couple hours, I went to the shop asking staff to return it due to the deffect; nevertheless, they refuse to assist me to return and told me that merchandise cannot be returned. This exacerbate my disappointment.

I would be grateful if you could help me in this situation, because I need this cloth for tomorrow. I would appreciate if you can atleast exchange the product instead of returing if that could work.

Hope to hear a favourable response.

Yours faithfully,

Rambeet Kaur

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response: Band 7.5

The letter clearly addresses all three required points. You describe the defect specifically—a hole in one pocket—and explain that staff refused the return because “merchandise cannot be returned.” Your request for an exchange is also clear, and the urgency is supported by the party being the next day. These details give the complaint a clear purpose and make the response relevant throughout. To strengthen the development further, explain what outcome you would prefer if an exchange is not possible, such as a refund, and state that the jacket was damaged when purchased rather than merely discovered later. The reason you were unable to try it on adds useful context, though its connection to the store’s responsibility could be made more explicit.

Coherence and Cohesion: Band 7.0

The letter follows a clear sequence: you introduce the complaint, describe the purchase and defect, recount the attempted return, and finish with a request. Paragraphing supports this progression, and links such as “However,” “nevertheless,” and “because” help show contrast and cause. The reader can follow the events without difficulty. Some connections are less smooth, however: the detail about the anniversary party interrupts the account of buying and discovering the jacket’s defect, and “This exacerbate my disappointment” repeats the emotional point without advancing the complaint. Grouping the purchase details and defect together, then moving directly to the return attempt, would make the progression more efficient. A more direct closing request would also give the final paragraph a stronger finish.

Lexical Resource: Band 6.0

You use an adequate range for a formal complaint, including “formally express my dissatisfaction,” “defective,” and “favourable response.” These choices communicate the situation and maintain an appropriately serious tone. There are also several inaccurate or unnatural choices that limit precision: “piece of cloth” is not the natural term for a jacket, “deffect” is misspelled, and “cloth” is used where “jacket” or “item” is intended. “I was divastated” is also an imprecise and misspelled way to describe a damaged pocket. Aim for accurate, natural collocations rather than more elaborate wording; for example, “faulty item” and “request an exchange” fit this context well. Proofreading spelling and word choice would make the complaint more professional.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy: Band 5.5

The letter attempts a mix of simple and complex structures, including the relative clause “which was held tomorrow” in the party detail and the conditional request “if that could work.” The main events remain understandable, but some grammatical errors affect accuracy. For example, “did not allowed” should be “did not allow,” while “one of the pocket is having a hole” needs a plural noun and a more suitable verb form: “one of the pockets had a hole.” In “after couple hours,” an article is needed, and “I would appreciate if you can” would be more accurate as “I would appreciate it if you could.” Practise checking verb forms, articles, and agreement, while retaining the complex sentence attempts.

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

Browse more IELTS Writing model answers or get your own writing scored by the same AI examiner.