Band 6.0 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 6.0 · Barron's Writing · 2026-10-07

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 6.0)

Dear liz,

Hi, Its's been a long since we last were in touch but I haven't forgotten all the wonderful memories we spent together. Finally I got some time put pen to paper and writing this letter regarding my bicycle.

I just got my birthday present from my parents and I am very excited to tell you that its a new motor bike. So, I thought to sell out my cycle to you.

Its in a very good condition and I recently changed the tires of that bicycle so it looks like brand new. The colour of the bicycle is red and it has a cute little basket where you keep your things.

I must say that I just wanted to sell it to you because you are my best friend and I am so attached with it emotionally. And also, you are looking for some private vehicle from a long time .I sell it to you in half price comapre to the price I got this.

Waiting for your response! Give my best to everyone in the family.

Best Wishes

Sakshi

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response: Band 6.5

The letter addresses all three points: you explain that a new motorbike means you no longer need the bicycle, describe its red colour, good condition and basket, and say your friend is looking for a vehicle and could buy it at half price. These details make the offer relevant and personal. The reason your friend would like it is present, but it is not fully developed: explain more specifically how the bicycle would suit her needs, rather than relying mainly on your friendship and her general search for transport. The emotional attachment is also slightly unclear as a reason for selling it. A clearer, more direct explanation of the benefits to your friend would make the purpose more convincing.

Coherence and Cohesion: Band 6.5

The information is arranged in a sensible sequence: you open with a friendly greeting, introduce the new motorbike, describe the bicycle, and then make your offer before closing. Paragraph breaks help distinguish these stages, and links such as “So” and “And also” show how the ideas relate. Some transitions are less smooth, however. The opening moves from shared memories to the sale without a clear connection, and “I must say” does not clearly introduce the reasons your friend would want the bicycle. The final offer and the explanation of your friend’s needs could be grouped and linked more clearly. Use a more purposeful progression from why you are selling, to the bicycle’s features, to its suitability for your friend.

Lexical Resource: Band 5.5

You use enough vocabulary to communicate the main details, including “birthday present,” “good condition,” “basket,” and “half price.” The friendly tone is also appropriate for a letter to a friend. However, several word choices and collocations are noticeably inaccurate or unnatural, such as “sell out my cycle,” “private vehicle,” and “the price I got this.” There are also spelling and form errors, including “comapre,” which reduce the polish of the message. Aim for more natural expressions such as “sell my bicycle,” “a way to get around,” and “half the price I paid.” This would make the offer clearer and show more precise control of everyday vocabulary.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy: Band 5.5

The letter includes a mix of simple statements and longer sentences, for example, “I just got my birthday present from my parents and I am very excited to tell you that its a new motor bike.” The main message remains understandable, but some grammatical errors occur across the response. Examples include “Its's been a long since,” “I recently changed the tires of that bicycle so it looks,” and “you are looking for some private vehicle from a long time.” Sentence boundaries and punctuation also need attention, particularly the space before the full stop in “time .I sell.” Practise accurate tense and article use, and check that clauses are joined and punctuated correctly. More consistently accurate sentences would strengthen the range you are already attempting.

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

Browse more IELTS Writing model answers or get your own writing scored by the same AI examiner.