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 to express my dissatisfaction regarding the product that I purchased last week. Moreover, jackets was damaged when I discovered at home.

Firstly, I bought black leather jacket in large size. However, when I received that product it was damaged in material and fitting is not accurate. when I was tried to reach out with your store manager they were denied my problem.

Although, when I purchased jacket with the return policy. The store manager was rude to me and told that merchandise cannot be returned. In addition, I paid around $400 for this leather jacket. Quality is not satisfied. I am really disappointed with your customer service and product.

I would appreciate it if you could exchange this product and give me the new one.

I am waiting to hearing from you. Thank you for your time and concentration.

Yours faithfully,

Keya Patel

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response: Band 6.5

You address all three required points: you identify the jacket as a black leather item, explain that the store refused a return, and request an exchange. The price and your disappointment also help show why the matter is important. This meets the task well, and the request is clear. However, some details are less fully developed: “damaged in material” does not explain what was physically wrong, and the account of the return attempt is brief. The phrase “when I purchased jacket with the return policy” also leaves unclear what you understood about the policy. To strengthen the letter further, describe the specific damage and state what outcome you expect if an exchange is not possible.

Coherence and Cohesion: Band 6.0

The letter has a recognisable structure, moving from the reason for writing to the purchase and return problem, then to your requested solution and closing. Paragraphing helps separate the request from the explanation. However, progression within the main paragraph is not always smooth: “Firstly,” “However,” “Although,” and “In addition” are used in ways that do not consistently show the relationship between ideas. For example, “Although” begins a sentence without a contrasting clause, while the return-policy detail interrupts the account of what happened at the store. Organise the events in chronological order and use fewer, more precise linking expressions. Clearer links between the damage, the refusal, and your requested exchange would make the letter easier to follow.

Lexical Resource: Band 5.5

You use relevant vocabulary for a complaint, including “dissatisfaction,” “damaged,” “return policy,” “merchandise,” and “exchange.” These choices make the purpose of the letter clear, and “merchandise” shows an attempt to use a more formal term. However, several word choices and collocations are inaccurate or unnatural, such as “damaged in material,” “fitting is not accurate,” “reach out with your store manager,” and “quality is not satisfied.” These phrases sometimes make the exact problem harder to understand. Aim for precise, natural expressions such as “the fabric was torn,” “the fit was incorrect,” and “I contacted the store manager.” A broader range of complaint-related vocabulary, used accurately, would improve clarity and control.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy: Band 5.0

You attempt both simple and more complex sentence forms, including “I would appreciate it if you could exchange this product,” and the main message remains understandable. However, errors in agreement, articles, verb forms, and sentence construction occur across the letter. Examples include “jackets was damaged,” “I bought black leather jacket,” “when I was tried,” and “I am waiting to hearing from you.” Capitalisation and punctuation also need attention, as in the lowercase “when” after a full stop and the fragment-like use of “Although.” These errors make some sentences awkward and reduce accuracy. Review basic sentence patterns and verb forms, and proofread each sentence for a clear subject and correctly formed verb. More accurate complex sentences would strengthen the letter.

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

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