Band 6.0 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 6.0 · Barron's Writing · 2026-11-01

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 or Madam,

I am writing to inform you that i am unhappy with a purchase from your store.I tried to return it but I was informed that merchandise could not be returned.I hope you will consider my situation favourably.

Let me explain my situation. I bought a jacket from your store two weeks back but yesterday, when I tried to wear it, I found out that it is in wrong size. I wear size medium while it is in size small.I immedietly went back to store to return it but I was told that goods cannot be returned after one week.

Would you kindly ask your staff to make the exchange happen?.I would prefer it to be in size medium.If my size is not available i can even settle for store credit or refund.

Thank ypu for your consideration,

Yours faithfully,

Moneeza

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response: Band 5.5

You cover the main points: you explain that the jacket is the wrong size, report that staff refused the return because it was beyond one week, and request an exchange, with store credit or a refund as alternatives. However, the task says the jacket was damaged, whereas your letter describes a sizing problem; this changes a key detail. The problem and the return visit are also only briefly explained, and the requested solution could be stated more clearly and fully. The response is six words below the required minimum, so it needs a little more relevant detail. Add a precise description of the damage and explain what outcome you expect from the manager.

Coherence and Cohesion: Band 7.0

The letter has a clear overall sequence: you introduce your complaint, explain the purchase and attempted return, then make a request and close politely. Paragraphing helps distinguish these stages, and phrases such as “Let me explain my situation” guide the reader. The progression is easy to follow, although the opening repeats information that is explained again in the next paragraph, and the request paragraph moves quickly from an exchange to store credit or a refund. Develop the explanation in a more direct sequence and use linking phrases to show how the requested alternatives relate. Check spacing around sentence boundaries, as in “store.I” and “happen?.I,” to make the presentation smoother.

Lexical Resource: Band 5.5

Your vocabulary is sufficient to communicate the complaint and desired outcome, using relevant terms such as “purchase,” “return,” “exchange,” “store credit,” and “refund.” The tone is generally appropriate for a formal letter. However, some choices are imprecise or unnatural: “two weeks back” is less suitable than “two weeks ago,” and “make the exchange happen” is informal and vague. There are also noticeable spelling errors, including “immedietly” and “thypu” (in “Thank ypu”), which reduce accuracy. Aim for precise wording that reflects the actual damage and use conventional formal expressions when describing the remedy you want.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy: Band 6.0

You use a mix of simple sentences and more complex forms, including the time clause “when I tried to wear it” and the conditional “If my size is not available.” Most of the message remains understandable, and the main events are expressed clearly. Some errors in grammar and punctuation remain: the first-person pronoun is written as “i,” and sentence boundaries are missing in “your store.I” and “happen?.I.” The phrase “I found out that it is in wrong size” also needs an article and a more consistent tense, for example, “I discovered that it was the wrong size.” Review articles, capitalization, and punctuation, while continuing to use varied sentence structures.

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

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