Band 5.5 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 5.5 · Barron's Writing · 2026-09-01

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)

Dear tanveer

I hope you are doing well. I am writing this letter to inform you that bicycle that I bought from marketplace that not using it .

As you know my studies are done I no longer need to travel by bicycle and other public transportation because next month I come going India . Its good in condition on black colour with comfortable seat . It has one small storage box and soft handles . I bought it from marketplace at $200 you can give me $150 if you are interested to buy .

I just ask you first because you are looking for cycle from long time to going to work and college and I think I will give to you . Its very helpful to you to save the time and money . If you interested come and check that on this weekends.

See you soon

Jaismeen kaur

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 5.5

You have addressed all three bullet points required by the task: explaining why you are no longer using the bicycle, describing it, and explaining why your friend would like it. However, the development of these ideas is somewhat limited. For example, the description of the bicycle is quite brief, and the explanation of why you are leaving could be more clearly linked to the sale. While the purpose of the letter is clear, the tone is slightly inconsistent for a letter to a friend, and the content lacks the depth required for a higher band score. To improve, try to expand on your descriptions and provide more natural, conversational justifications for your points.

Coherence and Cohesion — Band 6.0

The letter is organized into paragraphs, which helps the reader follow the structure. However, the use of cohesive devices is quite limited and sometimes mechanical. Phrases like 'As you know' are used correctly, but there is a lack of variety in linking words. The transition between sentences is occasionally abrupt, particularly in the second paragraph where you jump from your travel plans to the physical description of the bike. Improving the flow between sentences using a wider range of linking words (e.g., 'furthermore', 'consequently', 'in addition') would significantly enhance the coherence of your writing.

Lexical Resource — Band 5.5

Your vocabulary is adequate for the task, but it is quite basic and repetitive. You use the word 'marketplace' twice and 'bicycle' or 'cycle' repeatedly. There are also some awkward collocations, such as 'good in condition' (should be 'in good condition') and 'for long time' (should be 'for a long time'). To reach a higher band, you should aim to use more precise adjectives to describe the bike and more natural expressions for selling items. For instance, instead of saying 'I just ask you first', you could use 'I thought of you first'.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 5.0

There are frequent grammatical errors throughout the letter that occasionally impede clarity. Examples include 'bicycle that I bought... that not using it' (missing subject/verb), 'next month I come going India' (incorrect tense and preposition), and 'If you interested' (missing verb 'are'). You rely mostly on simple sentence structures. While you attempt some complex sentences, they often contain errors in word order or verb forms. To improve, focus on subject-verb agreement, correct use of articles, and ensuring that your verb tenses are consistent throughout the letter.

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

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