Band 6.0 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 6.0 · Barron's Writing · 2026-10-17

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,

I hope this letter finds you well.

I am writing to express my concern regarding recent purchase from your store.

Two days back, I bought a blue jacket, two shirts and a pair of shoes. Unfortuntaley, jacket is damaged from inside and pockets are torn too. While buying, I did not notice but other articles are fine.

When I contacted your sale boy for return, he argued that merchandise can not be returned and It was not damaged at the time of purchase. I am deeply disappointed and want a fair soultion. I am your regular costumer and I never experienced such thing.

I am going to Skardu. My whole trip is booked and I need warm clothes there especially my jacket to keep me warm. I do not have time and money to buy alternative. I want to exchange this jacket.

It would be a great favour if you allow me to exchange the damaged article.

Please note that, I have recepient. Moreover, the tag on the article is intact.

Thank you for your time and consideration.

Yours sincerely,

Samra

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response: Band 7.0

The letter addresses all three points: you describe the jacket’s torn pockets and interior damage, explain that the sales assistant refused the return, and clearly request an exchange. Your position is consistent, and the trip to Skardu and need for warm clothing help explain why a prompt solution matters. The intact tag and proof of purchase also support your request. To make the response more fully developed, clarify what outcome you expect if an exchange is unavailable, such as a refund, and specify when or how the manager can contact you. The opening and closing are appropriate, although “Dear Sir or Madam” would match the instructed greeting more closely.

Coherence and Cohesion: Band 6.0

The information follows a sensible order: purchase and damage, the attempted return, the reason the matter is urgent, and the requested remedy. Paragraphing helps separate these stages, and phrases such as “Moreover” connect supporting details. However, some links feel mechanical or unclear. “Please note that, I have recepient” does not clearly connect to the request, and “While buying, I did not notice but other articles are fine” combines two points awkwardly. Use clearer transitions and references—for example, explain that you have the receipt and that the tag remains attached in a complete sentence. This would make the progression smoother and reduce the effort needed to follow the final details.

Lexical Resource: Band 5.5

You use enough vocabulary to communicate the complaint and its context, including “damaged,” “torn,” “disappointed,” and “exchange.” Some choices are imprecise or unsuitable for a formal letter, however. “Sale boy” is not the natural term for the employee, while “fair soultion” and “regular costumer” contain spelling errors that reduce accuracy. “Recent purchase” also needs a more natural expression in this context. These issues do not prevent the reader from understanding your main request, but they limit precision and control. Check spelling carefully and choose standard customer-service terms, such as “sales assistant,” “receipt,” and “replacement,” where appropriate.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy: Band 6.0

The letter includes a mix of short statements and more developed sentences, such as “I am going to Skardu” followed by an explanation of why the jacket is needed. The main message remains understandable, but some grammatical errors affect accuracy. For example, “regarding recent purchase” needs an article, and “jacket is damaged from inside” also needs clearer article use. In “I did not notice but other articles are fine,” the relationship between the clauses needs clearer punctuation or a linking word. The sentence beginning “When I contacted…” would be more accurate with a clearer clause structure. Review articles, sentence boundaries, and punctuation, while continuing to use varied sentence forms.

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

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