Band 6.5 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 6.5 · Barron's Writing · 2026-11-07

IELTS Writing Task 1 question

You have a bicycle that you are no longer using. You would like to sell it to a friend.

Write a letter to your friend. In your letter
• explain why you are no longer using your bicycle.
• describe your bicycle.
• explain why you think your friend would like to have it.

You do NOT need to write any addresses.

Begin your letter as follows:

Dear _________,

Student answer (Band 6.5)

Dear Joey,

Hopefully, you and your family are in great spirits! I'm so sorry for not being in touch lately, but I wanted to make up for it now by writing this letter to you regarding my bicycle.

I'm not sure if I have mentioned this before but I got a job in Toronto so I need to use my car. Consequently, I’m no longer using the bicycle and planning to sell it.

About the bicycle, it is 2 years old Atlas model and red in colour. Also, it is supported by chargeable battery so it can easily run without paddling it.

When it comes to health and convenience, I think that bicycle is a suitable option for you. Not only can you use it for transportation but you can also use it for daily exercise.

Give my love to your family. Do get back to me whenever you get a chance. Can't wait to see you soon.

Cheers,

Anshu

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response: Band 6.5

The letter covers all three requested points and maintains a friendly, appropriate tone. You explain that your new job in Toronto means you need your car, describe the bicycle as a two-year-old red Atlas with a battery, and suggest your friend could use it for transport and exercise. These details make the offer relevant, but the reasons your friend would like it are less fully developed than the other points: for example, you could connect its battery assistance to Joey’s commute or explain how its condition and features suit their needs. The bicycle description could also be more informative, such as mentioning its condition or other practical features. The response therefore addresses the task clearly, while some ideas remain general rather than fully supported.

Coherence and Cohesion: Band 7.0

The letter is organised in a clear sequence: a friendly opening, the reason you no longer need the bicycle, its description, the benefits for Joey, and a warm closing. Paragraphing helps the reader follow each part, and transitions such as “Consequently” and “When it comes to” make the progression explicit. The overall flow is easy to understand, with no major gaps between ideas. To make the cohesion more flexible and natural, avoid relying on formulaic transitions and connect details more directly—for instance, link the battery feature to the convenience you later mention. The opening and closing also suit the informal relationship, so the letter’s structure and tone are consistently appropriate.

Lexical Resource: Band 6.0

You use an adequate range of vocabulary for a friendly letter, including phrases such as “in great spirits,” “make up for it,” and “daily exercise.” The language communicates the main points, and the tone is generally suitable. Some word choices and collocations are inaccurate or imprecise, however: “supported by chargeable battery” is not a natural way to describe the bicycle’s power system, and “run without paddling it” does not clearly express how the bicycle works. “Suitable option” is also rather general in this context. Aim for more precise, natural phrases when describing the bicycle and its benefits, such as “battery-powered” and “pedal assistance.” This would improve clarity and show more controlled vocabulary without changing the friendly style.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy: Band 7.0

You use a mix of simple and more complex sentence forms, including the contrast in “Not only can you use it for transportation but you can also use it for daily exercise.” Many sentences are clear and grammatically controlled, and punctuation generally supports the meaning. A few errors remain. In “it is 2 years old Atlas model,” the article and noun phrase need correction: “it is a two-year-old Atlas model.” In “I’m no longer using the bicycle and planning to sell it,” the second verb needs a matching auxiliary (“and am planning”). The sentence beginning “I'm not sure if I have mentioned this before but…” would also benefit from a comma before “but.” These are limited issues, but correcting them would make the writing more consistently accurate.

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