Band 6.0 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 6.0 · Barron's Writing · 2026-10-27

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 am writing in reference to the jacket i bought from your shop two das ago. I am stela bearing reciept no [redacted phone] from your shop. I am residing at number 20 Afam street Onitsha.

I bought a jacket from your shop two days ago only to notice that the inner part was barely torn to shreds when I tried testing it at home. Yesterday I took it to your shop attendant narrating my ordeal and letting her see the parts of the jacket that was torn including the reciept that bears the time and day of purchase. To my greatest surprise, she said the merchandise cannot be returned.

I would like the merchandise to look into the issue and change the the particular one I bought to a better one. I will equally want to merchandise to always carry out a routine check on the stocks making sure that the existing stock is still intact.

Thank for looking into the issue.

Yours faithfully,

Stella.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response: Band 7.0

The letter addresses all three required points: you describe the torn lining, explain that the attendant refused the return, and request an exchange. The details about showing the receipt and identifying when you bought the jacket make the complaint specific, while the request for a replacement gives the manager a clear action to take. Your purpose remains clear throughout. To make the response more fully developed, explain briefly why an exchange is a reasonable solution—for example, that the jacket was damaged when first inspected at home and you can provide it for examination. The request for routine stock checks is relevant, but it is broader than the immediate complaint; prioritising the replacement would keep the focus sharper.

Coherence and Cohesion: Band 6.5

The information follows a sensible sequence: you introduce the purchase, describe the damage and attempted return, then state what you want the manager to do. The paragraphing also separates the background from the main complaint. Some linking is effective, particularly “Yesterday” and “To my greatest surprise,” which help show the order and reaction. However, the opening repeats the purchase information, and the final paragraph combines the requested exchange with a general suggestion about stock checks, making the main action less prominent. References such as “the merchandise” are also unclear when you mean the manager or the store. Use clearer references and a more focused closing paragraph to make the progression smoother.

Lexical Resource: Band 5.5

You use some relevant complaint vocabulary, including “inner part,” “torn to shreds,” “attendant,” and “routine check,” so the reader can understand the situation. There are also attempts at more formal phrasing, such as “I am writing in reference to” and “To my greatest surprise.” However, several word choices and collocations are inaccurate or awkward: “I am stela bearing receipt” does not clearly express that you have the receipt, and “merchandise to look into the issue” uses the wrong word for the person responsible. Spelling errors such as “das,” “reciept,” and “stela” also reduce accuracy. Choose precise terms such as “manager,” “receipt,” and “lining,” and check spelling before sending.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy: Band 5.5

The letter includes both simple statements and longer sentences, such as the sentence describing the visit to the shop and the attendant’s response. This gives you some variety, and the main events are generally understandable. However, control is uneven, with errors in sentence construction, agreement, articles, and punctuation. For example, “the parts of the jacket that was torn” should use “were,” while “change the the particular one” contains a repeated article. The opening sentence, “I am stela bearing reciept,” is also grammatically incomplete, and “I will equally want to merchandise” lacks a clear subject. Practise building accurate request sentences and checking agreement and articles; clearer sentence boundaries will also help.

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

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