Band 6.0 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 6.0 · Barron's Writing · 2026-10-14

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 this letter regarding the jacket which Bought from you and found it damage.

Two days ago, I came to your store for buying an one winter jacket. It was a black leather jacket company name Nike and when I tried in store it was in perfect condition but after coming home I found it that jacket had some issues. The inner zip was not closing and also a big patch was located left side the jacket.

I visited yiou store next day and tried to exchange the jacket but the sales person refused to take back and also denied to return purchased amount. After having some conversation, he forced me to leave the store.

The total money which was spend by me on that jacket was $300, So I want my cash back or a new same jacket in exchange and although a strict action on that shop person so he will get a vauable lesson for future.

I look forward to hearing from you soon.

Your Sincerely,

Harvinderpreet

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response: Band 6.5

You address all three points in the prompt: you describe the faulty zip and patch, explain that the salesperson refused an exchange or refund, and state that you want your money back or a replacement. The specific details, including the purchase price and the employee’s response, make the complaint relevant and clear. The request for “strict action” is also included, though it would be more effective if you explained what resolution you expect from the manager and kept the focus on resolving the purchase problem. Some details are less fully developed—for example, the jacket’s damage is identified but not explained further. Overall, the purpose is clear, with some room to develop and refine the requested outcome.

Coherence and Cohesion: Band 6.5

The letter has a clear overall sequence: purchase and discovery of the damage, attempted return, then the requested remedy. Separate paragraphs help the reader follow these stages, and phrases such as “Two days ago,” “next day,” and “After having some conversation” signal the order of events. The closing is appropriate for a formal complaint. However, some links are mechanical or unclear, particularly “So I want my cash back or a new same jacket in exchange and although a strict action,” where several requests are joined without a clear relationship. More precise transitions and a clearer separation between the refund/replacement request and the complaint about the salesperson would make the progression smoother.

Lexical Resource: Band 5.0

You use vocabulary relevant to a complaint, including “inner zip,” “refused,” “exchange,” and “purchased amount,” and the reader can generally understand the problem and your desired outcome. However, several noticeable word-choice, collocation, and spelling errors reduce precision: “found it damage,” “for buying,” “a big patch was located,” and “vauable lesson” are not natural or accurate expressions in this context. “Cash back” is also less suitable than the more formal “refund.” The range is adequate for conveying the basic message, but repeated reliance on simple wording and inaccurate phrases limits flexibility. Aim to learn common complaint-letter collocations and check spelling before submitting.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy: Band 5.0

You attempt both simple and longer sentence forms, and the main events remain understandable. However, errors occur frequently across sentence structures and verb forms. For example, “the jacket which Bought from you” is missing a subject and has an incorrect verb form; “when I tried in store” lacks a necessary object and article; and “the total money which was spend by me” has an incorrect passive verb form. The final request also becomes difficult to follow because the clauses are joined without a complete grammatical structure. These patterns show that more complex sentences are being attempted, but they are not yet controlled consistently. Practise accurate past-tense reporting and build longer sentences from clear, complete clauses.

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

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