Band 5.5 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 5.5 · Barron's Writing · 2026-09-04

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 Um,

This is the letter that i want to tell you that i would like to sell my bicycle.

Since already you know that i got a job in Canada and i'm moving there so if my bicycle is in my home that will be useless and moreover it may get damaged since i'm going for years there.

So you already know that my bicycle both wheels are recently changed but there is slight damage on back side and paint is also little bit vanished but i would like to repaint it and sell. So that buyer will be more happy.

So my second thought is that instead of selling to someone if you require it then you can only take it. Why because since you dont have any vehicle and moreover you go to stores nearby everyday or else to your collage it will be useful to you only and if you only purchase and i can sell it to you for low cost also.

Thanks & Regards,

Joy

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 5.5

The letter covers all three bullet points: explaining why you are no longer using the bike, describing it, and suggesting why your friend would like it. However, the tone is somewhat inconsistent for a letter to a friend, and the development of ideas is a bit repetitive. For instance, the explanation regarding the move to Canada is clear, but the description of the bike's condition is slightly disjointed. To improve, ensure the tone remains friendly and natural throughout, and try to link your ideas more smoothly to better address the prompt's requirements for a personal letter.

Coherence and Cohesion — Band 5.5

The letter is organized into paragraphs, which helps the reader follow the structure. However, the use of cohesive devices is somewhat mechanical and repetitive, particularly the frequent use of 'so' and 'moreover' to start sentences. The flow between ideas could be improved by using a wider variety of linking words or by varying sentence structures to create a more natural progression. While the overall message is clear, the lack of sophisticated transitions keeps the coherence at a moderate level.

Lexical Resource — Band 5.5

The vocabulary is adequate for the task but lacks variety and precision. Phrases like 'paint is also little bit vanished' and 'you go to stores nearby' are functional but basic. There are some awkward collocations, such as 'paint is vanished' (should be 'faded' or 'chipped') and 'my second thought' (which doesn't quite fit the context of offering a bike). To achieve a higher band, focus on using more natural collocations and descriptive adjectives that are appropriate for a personal letter.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 5.5

There are frequent grammatical errors throughout the text, such as 'Since already you know', 'if my bicycle is in my home', and 'you dont have any vehicle'. The sentence structure is often simplistic, and there are issues with word order and article usage. While the meaning is generally clear, the number of errors is noticeable and occasionally distracts from the message. To improve, focus on basic sentence construction, subject-verb agreement, and the correct use of prepositions and articles.

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

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