Band 5.0 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 5.0 · Barron's Writing · 2026-10-13

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 5.0)

Dear Sir or Madam,

I am writing this letter to inquire you about a jacket that I bought recently was found to be damaged when i return back to my home. I found that on the left arm side of the jacket's underneath side, the whole fabric of the jacket had abrusions like it was brushed by a hard spiked brush.

Therefore, I went back to the store to return the damaged jacket but I was told that the merchandise cannot be taken back. Also, that there is not such policy of return item after once bought and taken back home

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response: Band 3.5

You identify the jacket’s damage, explain that the store refused to accept it, and begin to state the reason given, so the main situation is relevant. The description of the abrasion on the left sleeve is a useful specific detail. However, the letter does not say what you want the manager to do, leaving one required bullet point unanswered. The explanation of the return attempt is also incomplete, and the response is 49 words below the required minimum, which limits how fully you can develop the complaint and request. To strengthen the letter, explain when and how you spoke to staff, then clearly request a refund, replacement, or another remedy and briefly justify that request.

Coherence and Cohesion: Band 5.5

The ideas appear in a sensible order: you introduce the purchase and damage, then describe returning to the store. The opening paragraph also gives the reader a clear topic. However, the response ends abruptly after the store’s policy, so there is no closing paragraph or clear progression to the action you want the manager to take. The link “Therefore” signals a consequence, although the relationship between discovering the damage and returning to the store could be expressed more smoothly. The sentence beginning “Also” is a fragment rather than a complete continuation. Use separate paragraphs for the damage, the return attempt, and your requested solution, and finish with an appropriate closing.

Lexical Resource: Band 6.0

You use some relevant vocabulary to describe the problem, including “damaged,” “fabric,” and “abrasions,” and the detail about the jacket’s left arm helps convey the issue. There is an attempt at more specific language in “hard spiked brush,” although the description is not entirely natural. Some word choices and phrases are awkward or inaccurate, such as “inquire you about,” “return back to my home,” and “taken back.” The phrase “return item” is also not expressed naturally. These choices do not prevent the reader from understanding the complaint, but more precise collocations would make the letter clearer and more professional. Practise common phrases for complaints, returns, and damaged goods.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy: Band 5.0

You attempt a complex opening sentence and use a subordinate clause in “when I return back to my home,” showing some range beyond short simple statements. However, the opening is difficult to follow because the clause structure is incomplete: “a jacket that I bought recently was found to be damaged” needs clearer sentence construction. There are also errors in tense and form, including “when i return” instead of a past-tense form, and the final sentence beginning “Also, that there is” is not a complete sentence. Capitalise “I” and use complete, clearly punctuated sentences. A more controlled mix of simple and complex structures would help communicate the events accurately.

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

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