Band 8.0 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 8.0 · Barron's Writing · 2026-09-16

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 8.0)

Dear Likhon,

I hope you are doing well. I am writing to tell you that I have decided to sell my bicycle, as I no longer use it. Since I got a new bicycle recently, my old one has been sitting in the garage for several months.

It is a blue mountain bike in very good condition. It has 21 gears, strong brakes, comfortable handlebars and a padded seat. The tyres are still in excellent condition, and the bicycle is suitable for both city roads and rough paths. I have taken good care of it and cleaned it regularly.

I thought you might like to have it because I know you enjoy cycling. It would be perfect for your weekend rides and could also help you stay fit. Besides, it is reliable and easy to ride, so I think you would really enjoy using it.

Let me know if you are interested.

Best wishes,

Karim

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 8.0

The candidate has fully and effectively addressed all three bullet points of the prompt. First, the reason for selling the bicycle is clearly explained: the writer recently got a new bicycle and the old one has been sitting in the garage. Second, the bicycle is described thoroughly with specific details such as being a blue mountain bike with 21 gears, strong brakes, comfortable handlebars, and a padded seat. Third, the rationale for why the friend would like it is well-developed, mentioning the friend's enjoyment of cycling, weekend rides, fitness goals, and the reliability of the bike. The tone is appropriately friendly and polite throughout, perfectly suiting the General Training letter format. All parts of the task are well-covered with clear, natural development, earning a high band score.

Coherence and Cohesion — Band 8.0

The response is logically sequenced and easy to follow. Each paragraph focuses on a distinct point corresponding to the prompt's bullet points, ensuring clear progression from the introduction through the details and reasons to the concluding sign-off. Cohesive devices are used naturally and appropriately, such as 'Since I got a new bicycle recently', 'Besides', and 'Let me know if you are interested'. Paragraphing is handled skilfully, creating a very readable and coherent letter that meets all requirements for a well-managed structure. Referencing is consistently clear throughout.

Lexical Resource — Band 7.0

The student demonstrates an adequate and natural range of vocabulary suitable for a personal letter. Appropriate collocations and descriptive terms are employed, such as 'sitting in the garage', 'excellent condition', 'rough paths', and 'weekend rides'. While the vocabulary is fairly standard rather than featuring highly sophisticated or uncommon idiomatic phrases, it is precise, accurate, and completely appropriate for the context. There are no spelling or word-choice errors, allowing the message to be communicated smoothly and effectively.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 8.0

The letter exhibits a very good control of grammar and punctuation. The student successfully uses a mix of simple and complex sentence forms, including subordinate clauses such as 'as I no longer use it' and 'because I know you enjoy cycling'. The majority of sentences are error-free, and punctuation is handled correctly throughout. There are no noticeable grammatical slips or awkward structures that impede communication. The control demonstrated here easily satisfies the criteria for a strong band score.

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