Band 5.5 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 5.5 · Barron's Writing · 2026-10-25

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 5.5)

Dear Manager,

I hope you are doing well.

I am writing this email to complain about a jacket which recently bought from store but when retured back to home I figureout that it was damaged, rightway I took back to the store to exchange this with new one but they told that it cannot be retured or exchange.

Firstly, I saw there was numerous holes on both sides of arms which looks like I was kept it from low standard store.

Secondly, I was not familiar with the terms as well as policy of the store before purchasing my jacket. Moreover, they cleary mentioned that there was no retured or exchange.

Lastly, I would humble request to the store manager either give me new jacket or any type of discount on it.

I look forward as soon as.

Yours faithfully,

Arshjot Kaur khattra

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response: Band 5.5

You cover the three requested points: you describe holes in the jacket, explain that staff refused a return or exchange, and ask for a replacement or discount. However, the response is brief and several ideas are under-developed. For example, “I was not familiar with the terms” does not explain what the store’s policy was or whether it had been made clear before purchase, and the requested remedy could be stated more firmly and specifically. The letter also contains an inconsistency: you first say you sought an exchange, then report that the store said returns and exchanges were not allowed. The required minimum of 150 words is not met. Add relevant detail about the purchase and the conversation with staff, and clarify your preferred resolution.

Coherence and Cohesion: Band 6.0

The message has a recognisable sequence: you introduce the complaint, describe the damage, explain the store’s response, and make a request. The signposts “Firstly,” “Secondly,” and “Lastly” help the reader follow these points, and the closing is easy to identify. However, the numbered transitions feel mechanical for a short formal letter, and the second point about store policy interrupts the account of what happened during the return attempt. The opening paragraph also combines several events in one long sentence, making the progression harder to follow. Use separate paragraphs for the problem, the return attempt, and your requested action, and connect events with clearer time references such as “When I returned to the store.”

Lexical Resource: Band 5.0

You use some relevant vocabulary for the situation, including “damaged,” “holes,” “exchange,” “policy,” and “discount,” so the reader can understand the main complaint. However, the range is limited and several word choices or spellings are inaccurate, which makes parts of the letter less clear or natural. Examples include “retured,” “figureout,” “cleary,” and “I would humble request.” The phrase “low standard store” also does not clearly describe the jacket’s condition. Aim for precise, conventional expressions such as “visible holes,” “store policy,” and “I would respectfully request.” Proofreading spelling and choosing natural collocations will make your complaint sound more credible and professional.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy: Band 5.0

You attempt to express several connected ideas, but the response relies mainly on simple structures, and the longer opening sentence is difficult to control. For example, “a jacket which recently bought from store” is missing a subject and has an incomplete verb construction; “when retured back to home I figureout” also has problems with sentence structure and tense. There are further errors in agreement and articles in “there was numerous holes,” and the request “I would humble request” is not grammatically formed. These errors sometimes make the reader pause, although the overall meaning remains recoverable. Practise accurate past-tense sentences and use shorter sentences to separate the purchase, discovery, and return attempt.

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

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