Band 5.5 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 5.5 · 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 5.5)

Dear Sir,

I am writing this letter regarding my disappointment during the time of returning jacket.

Last week, I buy jacket from your store worth $100 and it was discounted also.Actually store was busy that time I couldn't got chance to try I grabbed it. However, when I tried at home colour of jacket was faded and some buttons were broken too.

Moreover, when I came back to store to return saleperson refused to exchange or refund as she said it was form sale selection. So, can't return.

So, it's my humble request to refund my money or you can exchange with other store item. Furthermore, you can give gift voucher as, I can use in my next purchase.

I will grateful of you if you solution my issue. I am looking forward for your reply.

Thank you

Your's Faithfully

Harvir

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response: Band 6.0

You cover all three required points: you describe the faded colour and broken buttons, explain that the salesperson refused a return because the jacket was on sale, and request a refund, exchange, or gift voucher. The purpose is clear and the tone is generally appropriate for a complaint. However, the requested remedy is presented as several alternatives without indicating which you prefer, and the circumstances of the purchase and refusal could be explained more fully. The response is also 9 words below the 150-word minimum, so it needs a little more relevant detail. For a stronger response, state your preferred solution and add a specific request, such as asking the manager to review the store’s policy or inspect the jacket.

Coherence and Cohesion: Band 6.0

The letter follows a sensible overall order: purchase and damage, attempted return, requested solution, and closing. Paragraph breaks help distinguish these stages, and linking expressions such as “However” and “Moreover” show the relationship between events. Some connections are mechanical or unclear, though. “So, can’t return” is an abrupt fragment, while “Furthermore” introduces another remedy without clearly showing how it relates to the previous options. The opening and closing are also separated from the main message without much development. Use complete sentences and connect the requested remedies in a more deliberate sequence—for example, state your preferred outcome first, then offer an alternative. This would make the progression smoother and the letter easier to follow.

Lexical Resource: Band 5.5

You use enough vocabulary to communicate the complaint and possible remedies, including “faded,” “broken,” “refund,” “exchange,” and “gift voucher.” These choices make the main problem understandable. However, several phrases are inaccurate or unnatural, such as “during the time of returning jacket,” “form sale selection,” and “I will grateful of you.” “Store item” is also vague in this context. These word-choice and collocation problems reduce precision, although the reader can generally understand your meaning. Aim for conventional complaint-letter expressions, such as “regarding my recent purchase,” “an item on sale,” and “I would be grateful if you could resolve this matter.” Check spelling and spacing as well, including “salesperson” and the missing space after “also.”

Grammatical Range and Accuracy: Band 5.0

You attempt both simple and more complex sentences, including “when I tried at home colour of jacket was faded” and “when I came back to store to return salesperson refused…”. The sequence of events is mostly understandable, but some errors in tense, articles, sentence structure, and punctuation remain. For example, “Last week, I buy jacket” needs a past-tense verb and an article, while “I couldn't got chance” has an incorrect verb form. “So, can't return” is not a complete sentence, and “I will grateful” is missing a verb. To improve accuracy, use past tense consistently for the purchase and return, check articles before singular countable nouns, and make sure each sentence has a complete subject and verb. A few carefully controlled complex sentences would also show greater range.

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

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