Band 6.5 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 6.5 · Barron's Writing · 2026-10-30

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 6.5)

Dear Sir/Madam,

I bought a yellow jacket from your store 2 weeks ago. However, when I got home I realized that the clothe was damaged. I immediately went back to the store the following day to return it, and I was told that I can't return the item.

The jacket was torn at the top sleeve. I didn't discover it while at the store because the part where it tore was hidden. I also realized that the some of the front buttons were missing.

I was unhappy about the jacket but couldn't go back to the store that same day because it was late. The following morning I drove to the store immediately and laid my compliant. I requested to return the damaged jacket in exchange for another one. Unfortunately I was told that I can't return the clothe. I pleaded with your staff but I was told that the store has a no-return policy.

Being that I wasn't aware of the new policy, I would appreciate it if the jacket is replaced with a new one or maybe get a refund.

Please kindly look into this matter and get back to me at your earliest convenience. Thank you.

Yours Sincerely,

Oge Frances.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response: Band 8.0

You cover all three requested points clearly. The damage is described specifically—the sleeve was torn and some front buttons were missing—and you explain both the attempted return and the staff’s no-return response. Your requested outcome is also explicit: a replacement or refund. These details make the purpose of the letter clear and the ideas are well developed for this task. To make the response even more complete, clarify whether you are asking the manager to choose between the two remedies or whether you prefer one, and briefly state that the damage was present when you bought the jacket. The explanation that the tear was hidden already supports this, but a direct statement would remove any possible doubt.

Coherence and Cohesion: Band 6.0

The letter has a clear overall arrangement: you introduce the purchase, describe the defects, recount the return attempt, and finish with your request. Paragraphing helps the reader follow these stages, and expressions such as “However,” “The following morning,” and “Unfortunately” signal relationships between events. Some cohesion is less controlled because the return attempt is reported twice: the opening says you went back the following day and were refused, then a later paragraph repeats the visit and refusal in greater detail. The sequence of events is also slightly confusing when “I was unhappy” appears before the explanation that you could not return that day. Combine the repeated account and use a clear time sequence to make progression smoother.

Lexical Resource: Band 6.0

Your vocabulary is adequate for the purpose and includes useful, relevant terms such as “torn,” “missing,” “exchange,” “refund,” and “no-return policy.” These choices make the complaint understandable. There are, however, some word-choice and collocation inaccuracies: “clothe” should be “clothing” or “jacket,” “laid my compliant” should be “lodged my complaint,” and “Being that” is an awkward way to introduce the reason. “The part where it tore was hidden” is understandable but could be expressed more precisely as “the tear was concealed.” Aim for more natural formal complaint language and check word forms and common collocations. This would make the letter sound more fluent and appropriately professional.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy: Band 6.5

You use a mix of simple and more complex sentence forms, and most of the message remains easy to understand. For example, “I didn't discover it while at the store because the part where it tore was hidden” combines a main clause with a reason, while “I requested to return the damaged jacket in exchange for another one” communicates the action clearly. Some grammatical errors remain. In “I realized that the clothe was damaged,” the article and noun form need attention; “I realized that the jacket was damaged” is more accurate. The request “I would appreciate it if the jacket is replaced” needs a more suitable conditional form: “I would appreciate it if the jacket were replaced.” Review conditional structures and sentence punctuation to improve consistency.

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

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