Band 5.0 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 5.0 · Barron's Writing · 2026-08-17

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 5.0)

Hello my dear friend

I hope you are good and your health is also good.

I know after a long time we talk to each other.

I am writing this letter to inform you that i want to share with some information which u are interested .

I just want to inform you thay when we meet last time at that time you are taking about buy a bicycle.so at that time I don't have any idea that it happens to me that I am going to buy a new car for my self .so I have a bicycle which is in good condition.i am using this and no any issue.so if u want to buy this bicycle so plz come my home .and let's meet together.i am glad that u are using.u are my best friend so I am not earning any single money from your side and you take it with you.what u want to pay I don't matter.i am happy that you use it and make it worthy.so miss you my dear friend and I hope you soon answer this letter and think about it.

Your best friend .

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 5.5

You have addressed all three bullet points: explaining why you are no longer using the bike, describing it, and explaining why your friend would like it. However, the development of these ideas is quite limited. For instance, the description of the bicycle is vague, simply stating it is 'in good condition' without mentioning features like the model, color, or type. The explanation for why your friend would like it is also underdeveloped, relying on the fact that you are friends rather than highlighting the bike's specific benefits. To improve, you should provide more descriptive details and elaborate on your reasons to better engage the reader.

Coherence and Cohesion — Band 5.0

The letter lacks paragraphing, which makes it difficult to follow the progression of ideas. While the overall message is understandable, the flow is hindered by a lack of cohesive devices. You rely heavily on simple sentences and repetitive structures, such as starting multiple sentences with 'I' or 'so'. There is a lack of logical transitions between the explanation of the bike and the offer to give it away. To reach a higher band, you should organize your letter into clear paragraphs (e.g., introduction, body paragraphs for the bike description/reasons, and a closing) and use a wider variety of linking words.

Lexical Resource — Band 5.0

Your vocabulary is quite basic and repetitive. Phrases like 'I am writing this letter to inform you' and 'I just want to inform you' are used redundantly. There are also errors in word choice, such as 'not earning any single money' instead of 'not asking for any payment' and 'it happens to me' which is unnatural in this context. While the vocabulary is sufficient to convey the basic message, it lacks the flexibility and precision required for a higher score. You should focus on using more natural collocations and avoiding informal abbreviations like 'u' and 'plz'.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 5.0

There are frequent grammatical errors throughout the text, including issues with verb tense consistency ('you are taking about buy a bicycle' instead of 'you were talking about buying a bicycle') and sentence structure. Many sentences are run-on or lack proper punctuation, such as the lack of capitalization after periods. You rely almost exclusively on simple sentence structures. To improve, you need to work on subject-verb agreement, correct tense usage, and incorporating a mix of complex sentence structures. Additionally, avoid text-speak abbreviations like 'u', as these are inappropriate for formal or semi-formal writing tasks.

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

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