Band 6.5 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 6.5 · Barron's Writing · 2026-10-06

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 Friend,

I am writing this letter to tell you that I have a bicycle which I have not used for longer. I got a driving licence. I bought a car. Nowadays, I do not use a bicycle every day to go to the office.

This is a black bicycle. I bought it from Costco for $ 500. It has gears, too. You can use it to go to work. I know your workplace is not too far from your house. It runs smoothly. It is a hybrid. You can use the paddle or the battery.

I think it is suitable for you because you told me last month that you were buying a bicycle. You want to go to work on it because the doctor recommended cycling. I don't think there's a need to buy a new one. You can buy this one at a lower price. You can decide and let me know soon.

I am looking forward to hearing from you soon.

Faithfully,

Rohit,

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response: Band 7.0

You address all three points clearly: you explain that getting a licence and buying a car means you no longer cycle to work, describe the bicycle as black, hybrid, geared and smooth-running, and connect the offer to your friend’s commute and the doctor’s recommendation. The reasons are relevant and your intention to sell is clear. The description and suitability are supported with useful details, although the offer itself could be more fully developed—for example, you could state the price you are asking and explain briefly why it is a good deal. Overall, the task is covered effectively, with some room to make the proposal more specific.

Coherence and Cohesion: Band 6.5

The letter has a clear progression: the opening explains why you no longer need the bicycle, the next paragraph describes it, and the final body paragraph explains why it may suit your friend. Paragraphing helps the reader follow these distinct purposes, and links such as “because” and “You can” make the relationships between ideas understandable. Some connections are a little mechanical, particularly the repeated short sentences beginning “You can,” and the transition from the bicycle’s features to its price could be smoother. The closing is appropriate, though “Faithfully” is less natural for a letter to a friend. More varied linking and a more conversational sign-off would improve the flow.

Lexical Resource: Band 5.5

You use enough vocabulary to communicate the offer and the bicycle’s main features, including “driving licence,” “gears,” “hybrid,” and “lower price.” The wording is generally understandable, but the range is limited and some choices are inaccurate or unnatural. “I have not used for longer” does not express the intended duration naturally; “I have not used it for a long time” would be clearer. “Paddle” is also the wrong term for the part you push with your feet; use “pedals.” The phrase “buying a bicycle” is understandable, but “looking to buy a bicycle” is more idiomatic here. More precise, natural collocations would strengthen the letter.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy: Band 6.0

You use mostly clear simple sentences and include some more developed structures, such as “I think it is suitable for you because you told me last month…” and “You can use it to go to work.” Meaning remains clear throughout. Some grammatical errors persist, however. In “I have a bicycle which I have not used for longer,” the pronoun “it” is needed after “used,” and the time expression needs a more suitable construction. “I bought a car” is grammatically correct, but the sequence of short sentences limits the range of structures. The final “let me know soon” is clear; consider combining related ideas with accurate subordinate clauses to show greater variety and control.

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

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