Band 5.0 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 5.0 · Barron's Writing · 2026-09-02

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)

DEAR ARSH VHORA,

HOW ARE YOU ARSH, I WRITE A LETTER FOR MY BICYCLE WHICH NO LONGER USE SO I WILL LIKE TO SELL YOU.

I KNOW YOU WANT TO BUY BICYCLE SO I WILL SUGGEST MY BICYCLE THAT IS BEST PRODUT OF HELPING ANYTIME . THIS BICYCLE IS HERO COMPANY AND IT IS GEAR WITH DISH-BREK CYCLE AND BLUE COLOUR WHICH DIFFERENT ON THE OTHER . THAT CYCLE IS RUNNING SPEEED FAST AND COMFORTABLE . IT IS A VERY KNOWN FOR EASY FOLDING TO ONE PLACE TO ANOTHER.

YOU ARE LINVING IN BOYS HOSTEL WHICH SO FAR FROM TO YOUR COLLAGE AROUD 7 KILLOMITERS SO MY CYCLE WILL HELP YOU TO EASY TO REACH YOUR DESTINATION AND EASILY FINISHED YOUR WORKS. THAT'S WHY I SELL THE BICYCLE TO REACH FAST AND SAVE THE TIME AS WELL AS IMPROVE YOUR FITNESS THROUG THE CYCLE.

YOUR FAITHFULLY.

AAKIB VHORA

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 5.0

You have addressed all three bullet points: explaining why you are selling the bike, describing it, and explaining why your friend would benefit from it. However, the response is slightly under the 150-word minimum, which impacts the overall score. While the ideas are relevant, the development is somewhat basic and repetitive. To improve, you should expand on your descriptions and provide more natural, conversational justifications for why your friend would like the bike. Additionally, the tone is inconsistent; while it is a letter to a friend, the phrasing is quite formal and rigid in places, which does not fully capture the informal nature required for this task.

Coherence and Cohesion — Band 5.5

The letter is divided into paragraphs, which helps the reader follow the structure. However, the use of cohesive devices is limited and sometimes mechanical. For example, the transition between the description of the bike and the benefits for your friend is abrupt. The use of referencing is occasionally unclear, such as in the phrase 'which different on the other'. To improve, try using a wider variety of linking words and phrases to connect your ideas more fluidly, such as 'Furthermore', 'Consequently', or 'As for the features'.

Lexical Resource — Band 5.0

Your vocabulary is limited and contains several errors in word choice and spelling, such as 'PRODUT' (product), 'DISH-BREK' (disc brake), and 'LINVING' (living). Some phrases are unnatural, such as 'finished your works' instead of 'complete your tasks'. While you have attempted to describe the bicycle's features, the lack of precise terminology and the frequent spelling mistakes hinder the clarity of your message. To reach a higher band, focus on learning common collocations and ensuring your spelling is accurate, as these errors currently distract the reader.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 5.0

There are frequent grammatical errors throughout the letter, including issues with verb tense ('I write a letter' instead of 'I am writing'), article usage, and sentence structure. For instance, 'I will like to sell you' should be 'I would like to sell it to you'. The sentence structures are mostly simple, and the attempts at more complex sentences often contain errors that affect readability. To improve, focus on mastering basic subject-verb agreement and the correct use of articles. Proofreading for common slips in tense and word order will also help improve your accuracy significantly.

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

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