Band 6.0 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 6.0 · 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 6.0)

Dear Aman,

I hope you are doing well. I am writing this letter to inform you that I want to sell my bicycle.

As you know, my work location is very far from my house and it is not possible to reach there by bicycle, so i bought a new electric scooter for myself that's why my old bicycle is no longer in use.

It is blue in colour and comes lock with it and also a good condition. I bought it almost three years ago and like a new bicycle and don not have any damage.

I think it is better for you if you would like to purchase it because you told me that you are looking for bicycle that is cheap in price but in good condition. If you are interested, then let me know; i hope you reply me as soon as possible. thank you.

yours lovingly,

Komal

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 6.0

The letter covers all three bullet points required by the prompt: explaining why the bicycle is no longer used, describing the bicycle, and explaining why the friend would like it. The tone is appropriate for a letter to a friend. However, the development of ideas is somewhat basic. For instance, the description of the bicycle is limited to its color and condition, and the explanation of why the friend would like it relies on a generic statement about price. To reach a higher band, you should provide more specific details, such as the brand, the type of bicycle (e.g., mountain bike), or specific features that would appeal to your friend.

Coherence and Cohesion — Band 6.0

The letter is organized into logical paragraphs, which helps the reader follow the progression of ideas. There is a clear opening and closing. However, the use of cohesive devices is quite limited and sometimes mechanical. For example, the transition 'that's why' is used in a way that feels slightly informal and repetitive. The connection between sentences could be improved by using a wider variety of linking words or phrases to create a smoother flow. Paragraphing is present, but the internal structure of the paragraphs could be more cohesive to better link the supporting details to the main points.

Lexical Resource — Band 5.5

The vocabulary is adequate for the task but lacks variety and precision. You rely on simple descriptors like 'good condition' and 'new bicycle'. There are also some minor errors in word choice and collocation, such as 'comes lock with it' (should be 'comes with a lock') and 'reply me' (should be 'reply to me'). To improve, try to incorporate more descriptive adjectives and more natural collocations. For example, instead of saying 'don not have any damage', you could use 'it is in pristine condition' or 'it is free from any defects'.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 5.5

The letter contains a mix of simple and compound sentences. There are several grammatical errors that, while they do not impede communication, are noticeable. These include punctuation errors (e.g., 'i' should be capitalized), missing articles ('looking for bicycle'), and awkward phrasing ('comes lock with it'). The sentence structure is generally straightforward, and there is a lack of complex grammatical structures. To improve, focus on consistent capitalization, correct article usage, and incorporating a wider variety of sentence structures, such as using relative clauses or conditional sentences to add depth to your writing.

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

Browse more IELTS Writing model answers or get your own writing scored by the same AI examiner.