Band 9.0 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 9.0 · Barron's Writing · 2026-08-01

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 9.0)

Dear John,

I hope you are doing well. I wanted to ask if you would be interested in buying my bicycle because I am no longer using it. Since I recently bought a car, I usually drive to work instead of cycling. As a result, the bicycle has been sitting in my garage for several months, and I think it would be better if someone else could make good use of it.

The bicycle is a black mountain bike that is only two years old and is still in excellent condition. It has 21 gears, strong disc brakes, and comfortable handlebars, making it suitable for both city roads and rough trails. I have also installed a bottle holder and a bright front light, which are included with the bike.

I immediately thought of you because you often mentioned that you wanted to start cycling for fitness and weekend trips. I believe this bicycle would be perfect for your needs, and I am happy to sell it to you at a much lower price than its market value.

Let me know what you think. I look forward to hearing from you soon.

Best wishes,

Dharminder

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 9.0

The response fully addresses all three bullet points in the prompt. You clearly explain the reason for selling the bike (purchasing a car), provide a detailed description of the bicycle (black mountain bike, 21 gears, disc brakes, accessories), and explain why your friend would be interested (fitness goals and weekend trips). The tone is appropriate for a letter to a friend, and the purpose of the communication is clear from the outset. All parts of the task are well-developed, and the information is relevant and helpful.

Coherence and Cohesion — Band 9.0

The letter is logically organized, with each paragraph focusing on a specific aspect of the prompt. The progression of ideas is smooth, moving from the reason for selling to the description of the item, and finally to the personal connection with the friend. You use cohesive devices effectively, such as 'As a result,' 'In addition,' and 'I immediately thought of you,' which help guide the reader through the text. Paragraphing is used appropriately to separate distinct ideas, making the letter easy to follow.

Lexical Resource — Band 8.5

You demonstrate a good range of vocabulary that is natural and appropriate for the context of selling a personal item. Phrases like 'market value,' 'excellent condition,' and 'rough trails' show a good command of descriptive language. The vocabulary is precise and fits the informal yet informative tone of the letter. There are no noticeable errors in word choice or collocation, and the language used is consistently accurate throughout the response.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 9.0

The letter displays a wide range of grammatical structures, including complex sentences such as 'I wanted to ask if you would be interested in buying my bicycle because I am no longer using it.' The use of punctuation is accurate, and the verb tenses are handled correctly throughout. The majority of your sentences are error-free, and the overall control of grammar is excellent. There are no significant errors that impede communication, and the writing flows naturally.

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