Band 6.5 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 6.5 · Barron's Writing · 2026-09-30

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 6.5)

Dear Raman,

Hope you are doing good. I am writing this letter to ask you that whether you are interested in purchasing my automatic black eletric bicycle which I have purchased last year only and haven't used much.

Last year when I was travelling from my home to college and back to my near by workplace I purchased that black automatic bicycle to save my time and energy. And lately when I got my new job in brampton, which is nearly 1 hour distance from my home it became difficult for me to travel from that bicycle.

My bicycle is fully automatic, black in colour and in a proper working condition. All the parts of the bicycle are well maintained. The seat and handle covers are being replaced last week only. The tyres still are in good working condition. Also, I have a cycling helmet as well, which is one of the major concern in our town as a security point of view.

When I read your message last week that you have started working as a part time employer in a near by workplace.That gave me a thought that why not you purchase that bicycle from me as it will be easier for you to travel now and than.

If you feel like taking a ride on my bicycle you ar welcomed. Hoping for a positive response.

Yours faithfully,

Rahul

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response: Band 7.0

The response successfully covers all bullet points required by the prompt. You clearly explained why you are no longer using the bicycle, mentioning that your new job in Brampton is too far for cycling. You also provided a solid description of the bicycle, noting that it is automatic, black, and well-maintained. Furthermore, you effectively explained why your friend would like to have it, pointing out that he recently started a part-time job nearby and the bike would make his travel much easier. The tone of the letter is suitably informal, and the purpose is apparent from the opening paragraph. All parts of the task are well addressed, fulfilling the requirements for a Band 7.0.

Coherence and Cohesion: Band 6.5

The letter has a clear overall structure and logically progresses from the opening greeting to the explanation of selling, the description of the bike, the reasons for purchase, and the closing. Paragraphing is used appropriately to separate distinct ideas, such as the reason for selling and the physical description of the bicycle. However, there are some minor mechanical issues with cohesion and referencing, such as the phrase 'travel from that bicycle' instead of 'travel by bicycle', and repetitive transitions. Despite these minor flaws, the flow of information is logical and easy to follow, making this a solid performance for Band 6.5.

Lexical Resource: Band 6.0

You demonstrate an adequate range of vocabulary for the task, successfully attempting less common items such as 'automatic', 'well maintained', and 'security point of view'. However, there are several word choice and spelling inaccuracies, such as 'eletric' instead of 'electric', 'near by' instead of 'nearby', and 'than' instead of 'then'. Phrases like 'part time employer' also show slight lexical confusion, as your friend is an employee rather than an employer. These errors do not impede communication, but they prevent the score from reaching a higher band. Overall, your vocabulary is sufficient and fits the general task appropriately.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy: Band 6.0

You demonstrate a mix of simple and complex sentence forms throughout the letter, such as relative clauses ('which I have purchased last year only') and conditional structures ('If you feel like taking a ride...'). There are, however, several grammatical and punctuation errors. For instance, 'ask you that whether' is incorrect, and phrases like 'The seat and handle covers are being replaced' should be in the past tense ('were replaced'). Punctuation is also slightly flawed in places, such as missing commas or running sentences together. Despite these errors, they rarely impede overall communication, placing your grammar securely in the Band 6.0 category.

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

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