Band 7.0 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 7.0 · Barron's Writing · 2026-09-24

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 7.0)

Dear Justin,

I hope you are doing great. I am writing this letter to offer you my bicycle, which I bought recently.

Earlier I was living in a house but now we shifted to an appartment, as you already know we have limited storage here. Therefore, my parents want me to sell it. We had our precious memories with this bicycle, we used to ride it everyday.

I have recently done some modifications such as, advanced gear box, new tires and flash lights which makes it better than before. I have also installed a new seat, which makes it comfortable to drive. Overall, all the maintenance is thoroughly done.

The bicycle has always been special for me and I want it to be held in secured hands. I strongly believe, you will keep it in the best way possible. If you want to purchase, you can speak to my parents as I don't have any price list in my mind.

Looking forward to hearing back from you. Let's catch up one day its been so long.

Best wishes,

Bharat Bhaskar

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response: Band 8.0

The candidate has successfully addressed all three bullet points required by the prompt. First, the writer explains why they are no longer using the bicycle, mentioning the shift to an apartment with limited storage space. Second, the bicycle is described clearly, including recent modifications such as a new gear box, tires, flashlights, and a seat. Third, the letter explains why the friend would appreciate it, noting that it has been well-maintained and that the writer trusts the friend to take good care of it. The tone is appropriately informal and friendly throughout, matching the requirements of a General Training Task 1 letter. Ideas are well-developed and the purpose of the communication is completely clear from beginning to end. Overall, the task is fully and effectively accomplished.

Coherence and Cohesion: Band 7.0

The letter is logically sequenced and easy to follow. Each paragraph serves a distinct purpose: the introduction establishes the context, the second paragraph explains the storage issue, the third describes the bicycle, and the final paragraphs discuss the sale and next steps. Cohesive devices are used appropriately, such as 'Therefore', 'Overall', and 'If you want to purchase'. Paragraphing is handled well, with clear spacing between sections. While referencing is generally clear, transitioning between sentences in the second paragraph ('We had our precious memories...') could be slightly smoother. Nevertheless, the organisation is logical and the progression of ideas is clear throughout, making this a solid performance for cohesion.

Lexical Resource: Band 6.5

The writer demonstrates an adequate to good range of vocabulary appropriate for an informal letter. Terms such as 'modifications', 'maintenance', 'precious memories', and 'secured hands' show a reasonable degree of lexical resource. There are a few minor lexical inaccuracies or awkward collocations, such as 'price list' instead of 'price in mind' or 'price in advance', and using 'drive' instead of 'ride' for a bicycle. However, these minor slips do not impede communication. Spelling and word choice are generally accurate, and the tone is successfully maintained throughout the letter using natural phrasing for a friend-to-friend correspondence.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy: Band 6.5

The writer demonstrates a good mix of simple and complex sentence forms. Examples of complex structures include 'which makes it better than before' and 'If you want to purchase, you can speak to my parents as I don't have any price list in my mind.' There are a few grammatical errors and punctuation issues present, such as a comma splice in the second paragraph ('we shifted to an appartment, as you already know...') and a spelling error ('appartment' instead of apartment). Furthermore, 'its been so long' requires an apostrophe ('it's'). Despite these errors, the majority of sentences are clear and error-free, and communication is never impeded. Control of grammar is generally sound.

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