Band 6.5 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 6.5 · Barron's Writing · 2026-10-31

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 or Madam,

I am writing this letter to escalate an ongoing issue with my current purchase from your store yesterday. I bought the exclusive black leather jacket in medium size from your new fall collection to wear on my birthday next month. I was very excited but the issue arises when I tried them on at home. The zip of the jacket was stucked in the middle. I was not even able to take it off.

I brought jacket back to your Queenspark mall location from where I originally bought it and asked them for return. They denied my request and said I could have seen it before which was completely unprofessional answer. I did not appriciate their customer service as they gave me all vague answers insted of solution.

I would like to have your urgent attention on this matter. I purchased it via mastercard and my order number on receipt is 12345. I either need new same jacket in the same colour and size or I need my money back. I also want you to monitor that store for their professionalism, approach and behaviour as I found them very rude, irresponsible and unprofessional.

I am looking forward to resolve this soon.

Sincerely,

Pankti

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response: Band 7.5

The letter addresses all three required points clearly: you describe the stuck zip, explain that staff refused the return and gave an unsatisfactory response, and request either a replacement or a refund. The receipt number and payment method also make the complaint specific and actionable. Your purpose and desired outcome remain clear throughout. To strengthen the response further, develop the requested action around the store’s refusal: for example, ask the manager to confirm how the issue will be resolved and respond by a particular date. The request to monitor staff is relevant, but could be framed more diplomatically and linked to the experience you describe.

Coherence and Cohesion: Band 7.0

The letter follows a clear progression from the purchase and defect, to the attempted return, and finally to the remedy you want. Separate paragraphs help the reader identify each stage, and phrases such as “I brought jacket back” and “I would like” signal the shift between points. The overall organisation is effective, though some links between ideas are abrupt: the move from the staff’s response to the payment details, for instance, could be smoother. The closing sentence, “I am looking forward to resolve this soon,” also does not quite express the intended relationship between the action and the resolution. More precise transitions and a conventional closing request would make cohesion more natural.

Lexical Resource: Band 6.0

You use an adequate range of complaint-related vocabulary, including “escalate,” “denied my request,” “vague answers,” and “professionalism.” These choices make the purpose clear, and the details about the jacket and store are specific. However, some word choices and collocations are inaccurate or awkward, such as “current purchase,” “exclusive” where the meaning is unclear, and “all vague answers insted of solution.” There are also spelling errors, including “appriciate” and “stucked,” which reduce precision. Aim for natural, formal expressions that describe the defect and the staff’s response without sounding overly accusatory; this would give your vocabulary greater control and suitability for a complaint letter.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy: Band 6.0

The response includes both simple and more developed sentence forms, such as “I bought the exclusive black leather jacket…” and the compound request, “I either need… or I need my money back.” Most meaning remains clear, but some grammatical errors occur. In “when I tried them on,” the pronoun does not agree with the singular jacket; “the issue arises” shifts tense from the past narrative; and “I am looking forward to resolve” uses the wrong verb pattern. There are also missing articles in “I brought jacket back” and “asked them for return.” Review agreement, consistent past-tense narration, articles, and verb patterns such as “look forward to resolving.” More accurate control of these forms would improve the letter.

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

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