Band 8.0 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 8.0 · Barron's Writing · 2026-08-13

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 8.0)

Dear Rahul,

I hope you are doing well. I am writing because I have decided to sell my bicycle, and I thought you might be interested in buying it.

I am no longer using it because I recently bought a car and now drive to work every day. As a result, I rarely have time to cycle, and I feel it would be better to sell it to someone who can use it regularly.

The bicycle is a black mountain bike with 21 gears and comfortable seats. It is about two years old and is still in excellent condition. I have always kept it indoors and had it serviced regularly, so the brakes, tyres and gears all work well. I would also include a helmet and a bicycle lock.

I think you would like it because you often cycle to work and have been looking for a reliable bicycle. It would be suitable for both daily travel and weekend rides.

Let me know if you are interested.

Best wishes,

Gulshan

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 8.0

The response fully addresses all three bullet points in the prompt. You clearly explain why you are no longer using the bicycle (purchasing a car), provide a detailed description of the bike (black mountain bike, 21 gears, condition), and offer a logical reason why your friend would appreciate it (he cycles to work). The tone is appropriate for a letter to a friend, maintaining a consistent and friendly register throughout. The ideas are well-developed and the purpose of the letter is clear from the opening paragraph. You have successfully met all requirements of the task.

Coherence and Cohesion — Band 8.0

The letter is logically organized with a clear progression of ideas. Each paragraph focuses on a specific aspect of the prompt, which makes the information easy to follow. You use appropriate cohesive devices such as 'As a result', 'In addition', and 'so' to link your sentences and ideas effectively. The paragraphing is logical and contributes to the overall flow of the letter. The transition between explaining the reason for selling and describing the bike is smooth, and the letter concludes with a natural closing statement.

Lexical Resource — Band 7.5

You demonstrate a good range of vocabulary that is well-suited to the context of selling a bicycle. Phrases like 'excellent condition', 'serviced regularly', and 'reliable bicycle' are used accurately. The vocabulary is natural and precise, allowing you to convey your message without any ambiguity. While the vocabulary is functional and appropriate, it stays within a standard range. To reach a higher band, you could incorporate slightly more sophisticated or idiomatic expressions, but for this task, your lexical control is strong and effective.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 8.0

Your grammar is highly accurate, with a variety of sentence structures used throughout the letter. You successfully combine simple and complex sentences, such as 'I have always kept it indoors and had it serviced regularly, so the brakes, tyres and gears all work well.' Punctuation is used correctly, and there are no significant grammatical errors that impede communication. The majority of your sentences are error-free, showing a high level of control over English syntax. The writing is fluent and reads very naturally.

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

Browse more IELTS Writing model answers or get your own writing scored by the same AI examiner.