Band 6.0 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 6.0 · Barron's Writing · 2026-08-07

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 6.0)

Dear Danish,

I hope you are doing great. I am writing this letter to inform you that I am selling my bicycle, that you have always loved. Before putting it for sale on OLX, I wanted to ask you if you would want to buy that from me. I have recently bought a scooter which I will now be using for commute. That is why I no longer need my bicycle.

It is in the same position like when you saw it the last time. It has a working bell, a beautiful basket in front, it's breaks are working fine. And I am giving bicycle locker with it as well. I recently got it painted in Ben Ten theme. So, I guess you will love it even more now. I am giving my bicycle for only 40 USD.

I think it will be of great use for you, as you have recently started college. You can use the bicycle to go to college. Moreover, I think boys in school will love the Ben Ten themed cycle.

Let me know if you would like to purchase my bicycle. I will be waiting to hear from you.

Yours Sincerely,

Your Bestfriend

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 6.0

You have successfully addressed all three bullet points in the prompt. You clearly explained the reason for selling the bicycle (purchasing a scooter), provided a description of the item (including the theme and accessories), and justified why your friend would want it (college commute). The tone is appropriate for a letter to a friend, and the purpose is clear throughout. To reach a higher band, ensure that your ideas are slightly more developed; for instance, you could have elaborated more on the condition of the bicycle or the specific benefits of the 'Ben Ten' theme to add more depth to your response.

Coherence and Cohesion — Band 6.0

The letter is logically organized, with each paragraph focusing on a specific aspect of the task. You use basic cohesive devices such as 'Moreover' and 'That is why' to connect your ideas. However, the flow between sentences is sometimes a bit mechanical. To improve, try to vary your transition words and ensure that referencing is always precise. For example, in the second paragraph, the transition between the bicycle's condition and the paint job could be smoother. Overall, the paragraphing is appropriate and the progression of ideas is clear and easy to follow.

Lexical Resource — Band 5.5

You demonstrate an adequate range of vocabulary for this task, using terms like 'commute', 'purchase', and 'accessories' (implied). There are some minor inaccuracies, such as using 'position' instead of 'condition' and 'locker' instead of 'lock'. Additionally, 'Ben Ten' should be 'Ben 10'. While these errors do not impede communication, they indicate a need for more precise word choice. To improve, focus on learning common collocations related to buying and selling items, and ensure that you are using the correct terminology for bicycle parts and accessories.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 5.5

You use a mix of simple and complex sentence structures, which is appropriate for this task. However, there are several grammatical errors, such as 'it's breaks' (should be 'its brakes'), 'putting it for sale' (should be 'putting it up for sale'), and 'I am giving bicycle locker' (missing an article). While these errors are noticeable, they do not prevent the reader from understanding your message. To reach a higher band, focus on proofreading for common errors like subject-verb agreement, article usage, and the difference between possessive pronouns and contractions.

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

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