Band 6.5 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 6.5 · Barron's Writing · 2026-11-03

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 to formly complain about a purchase I have made at your store last week. I went to your store and bought a black, leather jacket. Unfortunately, I arrived late before the closing time so I was not able to go to the fitting rooms so I paid and left immediately.

After I arrived home, I discovered some cracks. I think it can be from the wrong storage way. These cracks are in the back of the jacket and they are really noticable. Till now , I can not get it how the cashier who put the jacket for me in the shopping bag did not see them.

In the next day morning, I returned to the store, however, the staff refuses to replace it for me with a new one. Moreover, they told me that garments can not be returned. I felt really upset about that because I can not wear the jacket with its current condition.

I would like to ask for returning the jacket, and getting a full refund as soon as possible.

Thank you for your consideration.

Yours sincererly.

Diana

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response: Band 7.5

The letter clearly addresses all three required points. You describe the damage as visible cracks on the back, explain that staff refused to replace the jacket and said garments could not be returned, and state that you want a full refund. The complaint is clear and relevant throughout, and details such as not having time to try the jacket on help explain how the problem was discovered only at home. To make the request more fully developed, specify what evidence you can provide, such as a receipt, and indicate a reasonable response or resolution timeframe. The main ideas are well supported, though the explanation that the cracks may have resulted from storage is speculative and could be expressed more cautiously.

Coherence and Cohesion: Band 7.0

The letter follows a clear sequence: purchase, discovery of the damage, attempted return, and requested remedy. Paragraphing supports this progression, while phrases such as “After I arrived home” and “Moreover” help connect events and add information. The reader can follow the complaint without difficulty. Some linking is less natural or precise, however: “In the next day morning” is an awkward transition, and “Till now” does not clearly fit the point being made. The final request would also connect more smoothly if it followed directly from the staff’s refusal. Use straightforward time markers such as “The following morning” and make references between events explicit to keep cohesion flexible and unobtrusive.

Lexical Resource: Band 6.0

You use enough vocabulary to communicate the complaint and its requested outcome, including “cracks,” “replace,” “garments,” and “full refund.” There are also attempts at more specific language, such as “leather jacket” and “current condition.” However, some word choices and collocations are inaccurate or unnatural: “formly complain” should be “formally complain,” “wrong storage way” is unclear, and “get it how” does not express the intended meaning naturally. Spelling errors in “noticable” and “sincererly” also reduce accuracy. Aim for precise, conventional complaint-letter phrases and check spelling carefully; this would make the vocabulary more controlled and professional.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy: Band 6.0

The response includes a mix of simple and complex sentences, for example the sentence beginning “Unfortunately” and the clause “because I can not wear the jacket.” Most grammatical choices still allow the reader to understand the events and request. Some errors remain in verb forms, articles, and sentence construction: “I have made at your store last week” combines a present perfect with a finished time expression, while “the staff refuses” shifts tense from the past narrative. “I would like to ask for returning the jacket” also uses an awkward grammatical pattern. Review tense consistency in past events and use forms such as “ask for a refund” or “ask you to accept the return.”

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

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