Band 7.0 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 7.0 · Barron's Writing · 2026-08-19

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 7.0)

Dear Ram,

Hope you are doing well! I am writing this letter because I have decided to sell my bicycle as I no longer use it. As you know, I moved closer to my college, and I usually walk or take the bus instead of riding a bicycle.

It is a mountain bike with black color. It has comfortable seats, and the gears and brakes work well. I bought it 2 years ago, so it has minor scratches.

You told me last week about buying a bicycle because you really enjoy cycling. I can give you at vary reasonable price, and it is suitable for daily rides and parks. If you want, you can take a test drive so you can get to know how it works and what condition it has.

“Let me know if you are interested. I’d be happy to let you try it before you decide.”

Best wishes,

Preeti

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 8.0

The letter successfully addresses all three bullet points required by the prompt. You clearly explain why you are no longer using the bicycle (moving closer to college), provide a description of the bike (mountain bike, black, comfortable seats), and explain why your friend would like it (they enjoy cycling and it is suitable for their needs). The tone is appropriate for a letter to a friend, and the purpose of the communication is clear throughout. The response is well-structured and covers all requirements effectively, demonstrating a good understanding of the task instructions.

Coherence and Cohesion — Band 7.0

The letter is logically organized with a clear progression of ideas. Each paragraph focuses on a specific aspect of the prompt, which helps the reader follow the narrative easily. You use basic cohesive devices such as 'As you know', 'because', and 'If you want' to link your ideas. While the flow is natural, the use of cohesive devices is somewhat simple. To reach a higher band, you could incorporate a wider variety of linking words or transition phrases to connect sentences more fluidly. However, the overall structure is sound and the paragraphing is appropriate for a personal letter.

Lexical Resource — Band 6.5

You demonstrate an adequate range of vocabulary for this task. Phrases like 'minor scratches', 'test drive', and 'suitable for daily rides' are used correctly and fit the context well. There is a minor error in the phrase 'at vary reasonable price', which should be 'at a very reasonable price'. While the vocabulary is functional and clear, it is somewhat limited in terms of sophistication. To improve, try to incorporate more descriptive adjectives or idiomatic expressions that would naturally occur in a friendly letter to enhance the overall quality of your writing.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 6.5

The letter shows a mix of simple and complex sentence structures. Most sentences are clear and error-free, which ensures that communication is never impeded. There are a few minor grammatical slips, such as the missing article in 'at vary reasonable price' and the slightly awkward phrasing 'what condition it has'. Additionally, the inclusion of a quoted sentence in the middle of the paragraph is unnecessary and slightly disrupts the flow. Despite these minor issues, your control over basic grammar is good, and you demonstrate the ability to construct complex sentences effectively.

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

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