Band 5.5 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 5.5 · 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 5.5)

Hey Matthew,

Hope you are doing well! It's been a long time since we met each other and guess what I want to sell my bicycle and you are the first person who comes to my mind.

As you already know that my father is a army officer and he got transfer orders from the head office last week. So, we are going to another army base and leaving all our belongings behind.

The bicycle has many unique features including an adjustable seat according to different heights; Plus, a bottle holder. Also, it has a six gear mechanism which helps to maintain speed according to the conditions of the road.

You always admired this beautiful bicycle since I brought because of it's advance features. Hence, I decided to handover it to you, so that you can k

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 incomplete, ending abruptly mid-sentence ('so that you can k'). Additionally, the response falls short of the 150-word minimum requirement. While the ideas are relevant, the lack of a proper conclusion and the unfinished nature of the text significantly impact the development of the task. To improve, ensure you complete your sentences and expand on your descriptions to meet the length requirement.

Coherence and Cohesion — Band 6.0

The letter uses paragraphing to separate ideas, which helps the reader follow the structure. However, the abrupt ending disrupts the flow of the text. Cohesive devices are used, such as 'As you already know' and 'Hence', but the transition between the description of the bike and the final paragraph is hindered by the incomplete sentence. To improve, ensure that each paragraph flows logically into the next and that you provide a clear, finished closing statement to your letter.

Lexical Resource — Band 6.0

You demonstrate an adequate range of vocabulary for the task, using terms like 'transfer orders', 'belongings', and 'mechanism'. However, there are some inaccuracies, such as 'I brought' (should be 'I bought') and 'advance features' (should be 'advanced features'). These errors do not impede communication, but they show a need for more precise word choice. To reach a higher band, focus on using more varied and accurate collocations and ensure your spelling is consistent.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 5.5

The letter contains a mix of simple and complex sentence structures. There are several grammatical errors, such as 'my father is a army officer' (should be 'an army officer') and 'it's advance features' (should be 'its advanced features'). Punctuation is generally acceptable, but the incomplete final sentence makes it difficult to assess your control over complex structures fully. To improve, pay closer attention to articles, possessive pronouns, and verb tenses to ensure your writing is more accurate.

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

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