Band 5.5 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 5.5 · Barron's Writing · 2026-08-09

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 5.5)

Dear Nav,

I hope you are doing well. I am writing you this letter regarding that I am going to sell my bicycle and you are also looking for a bicycle. I am thinking instead of buying if you want to take this bicycle as it is in new condition.

Actually, I bought it last year, It is Hero company's cycle, has black colour and grey wheels. As you know, I am changing my town it is difficult me to carry it with myself while moving.

I thought I have to sell it, and you also looking for a bicycle. I thought instead of selling it outside, I will ask you first.

Moreover, You also ride my bicycle and it is very comfortable and i

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 5.0

The letter addresses all three bullet points: explaining why you are selling the bike, describing it, and suggesting why your friend would like it. However, the response is significantly under the 150-word minimum, which limits the development of your ideas. The explanation regarding why you are moving and the description of the bike are quite brief. To improve, you should expand on the details of the bicycle's features and provide a more natural, persuasive argument for why your friend should purchase it. Because the response is under-length, it cannot reach a higher band score for this criterion.

Coherence and Cohesion — Band 5.5

The letter has a basic structure, but the progression of ideas is somewhat repetitive. For example, you mention that you are selling the bike and that your friend is looking for one multiple times. The use of cohesive devices is limited; you rely on simple connectors like 'Moreover' and 'Actually'. Paragraphing is present, but the final paragraph is incomplete, which disrupts the flow of the letter. To improve, try to link your sentences more fluidly using a wider variety of cohesive devices such as 'consequently', 'furthermore', or 'given that', and ensure each paragraph has a clear, distinct focus.

Lexical Resource — Band 5.5

The vocabulary used is functional but basic. You rely on simple descriptors like 'new condition', 'black colour', and 'very comfortable'. There is little evidence of less common lexical items or idiomatic language appropriate for a friendly letter. Some phrasing is slightly unnatural, such as 'Hero company's cycle' and 'changing my town'. To improve, try to incorporate more descriptive adjectives and natural collocations. For instance, instead of saying 'changing my town', you could say 'relocating to a different city'. Expanding your vocabulary will help you express your ideas with more precision and flair.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 5.0

The response contains a mix of simple and some attempted complex sentences, but there are frequent grammatical errors. Examples include 'I am writing you this letter regarding that I am going to sell', 'it is difficult me to carry it', and 'you also looking for a bicycle' (missing auxiliary verb). Punctuation is also inconsistent, with some run-on sentences and missing commas. To improve, focus on subject-verb agreement and the correct use of prepositions. Ensure that you proofread your work to catch missing words, which are currently affecting the clarity of your message.

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

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