Band 6.0 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 6.0 · Barron's Writing · 2026-10-29

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 this letter about dissatisfaction of the jacket that I bought from your store this morning. Also I didn't know that it is not returnable.

I bought the wollen material yellow jacket from your shop at 9:30 am. While I fit checked the jacket it was fine, no damages seen. After I returned the home, I noticed that it was torn in the collar and left side of the pocket. In addition to this, I could see the brown stains at the backside of the shoulder region.

Without any second thought, I went back to the store to return the jacket. However, the sales man asked me video proof of unwrapping the package. Unfortunately, I couldn't take any videos and I explained him in detail but he didn't beleive me. I felt very disappointed by his behaviour.

Could you please refund the jacket amount or replace it with some other products if possible sir? Also, teach your store workers how to handle the customer patiently instead of getting angry. Otherwise you would lose lots of customers in the future.

I look forward for your response

Your faithfully,

Peter.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response: Band 6.5

You address all three requested points: you describe the jacket’s tears and stains, explain that the salesperson demanded video proof and refused to believe you, and ask for a refund or replacement. The request is clear, and the details about when and where you noticed the damage make the complaint relevant. Some parts are less fully developed: for example, you could clarify whether you want a refund as your preferred outcome or would accept a replacement, and specify what action you expect the manager to take regarding the staff member. The letter also has a generally suitable complaint purpose, but “Dear sir” and “Your faithfully” do not match the instructed opening and formal closing conventions. More precise development and consistent formality would strengthen it further.

Coherence and Cohesion: Band 6.5

The letter follows a sensible sequence: purchase, discovery of the damage, attempted return, and requested resolution. Paragraphing helps distinguish these stages, and linking phrases such as “However” and “In addition to this” make relationships between details clear. The progression is generally easy to follow, though some connections feel mechanical, particularly “Without any second thought,” which does not add much to the account. A few references could also be clearer: “it” in “I didn't know that it is not returnable” is vague, and “the jacket amount” is an imprecise reference to the requested refund. Use more natural transitions and make each reference explicit to improve the flow and cohesion.

Lexical Resource: Band 6.0

You use enough vocabulary to communicate the complaint and include some useful specific terms, such as “collar,” “pocket,” “brown stains,” and “refund.” There are also attempts at more precise description, including “backside of the shoulder region.” However, several word choices and collocations are inaccurate or unnatural: “dissatisfaction of the jacket,” “fit checked,” “sales man asked me video proof,” and “other products” do not express the intended meaning naturally. Spelling errors such as “wollen” and “beleive” also reduce accuracy. These issues do not prevent understanding, but more reliable collocations and accurate spelling would make the letter sound more fluent and appropriately formal.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy: Band 5.5

You use a mix of simple and more complex sentences, including “While I fit checked the jacket it was fine” and “Although” is not needed to understand the sequence; your use of “However” introduces contrast effectively. Most of the message remains understandable, but some grammatical errors occur in sentence construction, tense, articles, and prepositions. For example, “After I returned the home” needs a different construction, and “I explained him in detail” is missing the appropriate preposition. “I look forward for your response” also uses the wrong preposition. Review these patterns and add commas after introductory clauses, as in “While I was checking the jacket, it seemed fine.” Greater accuracy across these structures would improve control.

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

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