Band 9.0 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 9.0 · Barron's Writing · 2026-08-10

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 Alex,

I hope you’re doing well. I’m writing because I’ve decided to sell my bicycle, and I immediately thought of you because I know how much you enjoy cycling.

The main reason I’m no longer using it is that I recently bought a car, so I now use it for most of my daily journeys. As a result, my bicycle has been sitting unused in my garage for several months, and I think it would be better if someone could make good use of it.

It is a blue mountain bike with a lightweight aluminium frame and 21 gears. It has comfortable handlebars, reliable brakes and fairly wide tyres, which make it suitable for both city streets and park trails. Although I have owned it for about three years, it is still in excellent condition because I have always maintained it properly. I had the brakes and gears serviced recently, and the tyres are also in good shape.

I think you would really like this bicycle because you often cycle to work and have mentioned that you want to become more active. It would be ideal for commuting as well as weekend rides. I’m happy to offer it to you at a reasonable price, and you can come over and take it for a test ride whenever you are free.

Let me know what you think.

Best wishes,

Sam

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 9.0

The response fully addresses all three bullet points in the prompt. You clearly explain why you are selling the bike (purchasing a car), provide a detailed description of the bicycle (blue mountain bike, aluminium frame, 21 gears), and offer a convincing reason why your friend would appreciate it (commuting and fitness goals). The tone is consistently appropriate for a letter to a friend, maintaining a friendly and helpful persona throughout. All requirements are met with well-developed ideas, and the letter is structured logically to cover each point thoroughly.

Coherence and Cohesion — Band 9.0

The letter is well-organized with a clear logical progression. Each paragraph focuses on a specific aspect of the task, which makes the information easy to follow. You use effective cohesive devices such as 'As a result', 'Although', and 'in addition to' (implied through structure) to link ideas smoothly. The transition between explaining the reason for selling and describing the bike is natural. Paragraphing is used effectively to separate the introduction, the description, the justification, and the closing, ensuring the reader can navigate the text without difficulty.

Lexical Resource — Band 8.5

You demonstrate a wide and natural range of vocabulary appropriate for the context. Phrases such as 'lightweight aluminium frame', 'maintained it properly', and 'ideal for commuting' show a good command of descriptive language. The word choices are precise and contribute to the clarity of the message. There are no noticeable errors in spelling or word formation, and the vocabulary is used with a high degree of flexibility, fitting the informal yet informative tone of a personal letter perfectly.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 9.0

The response exhibits a wide range of grammatical structures with high accuracy. You successfully use complex sentences, such as 'Although I have owned it for about three years, it is still in excellent condition because I have always maintained it properly.' Punctuation is used correctly throughout, and there are no significant grammatical errors. The control over verb tenses—switching between past (for maintenance) and present (for current state and intentions)—is handled with precision. The writing is error-free, reflecting a high level of grammatical competence.

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