Band 6.0 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 6.0 · Barron's Writing · 2026-10-08

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 Benjamin,

I hope this letter finds you in well being. I am writing this letter to tell you about my old bicycle which i have for sale. This is the pheonix bicycle, the one we both used to ride when we were living in the same city. My apartment complex is small and there is not enough room for me me to keep my bicycle there, so i have to let it go.

This is a pheonix bicycle, black colour with 5 speed gears. The one we used to ride together when we were living in the same city. Everything works completely fine and it requires no work or servicing.

This bicycle holds sentimental values for me, of the time when everythin felt normal and ordinary. We used to ride all day long to unknown places exploring different corners of our beloved city. I don't want anyone else to have it except you.

I hope to hear from you soon,

Your's truly.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response: Band 7.0

The letter addresses all three required points: you explain that limited space in your apartment means you cannot keep the bicycle, describe its black colour and five-speed gears, and connect it to your friend through shared memories of riding together. The personal tone is appropriate, and the reason you think Benjamin would want it is clear in the line, “I don't want anyone else to have it except you.” The description and the appeal to your friend are relevant, though the bicycle’s condition and suitability could be developed more specifically—for example, mention what kind of riding it is good for or why its working condition makes it a practical choice. Overall, the purpose and message are clear.

Coherence and Cohesion: Band 6.0

The letter has a coherent overall arrangement: it opens with the reason for writing, gives the bicycle’s details, and then recalls shared experiences before closing. Paragraph breaks help distinguish these stages. However, some links between sentences are abrupt or repetitive. “This is a pheonix bicycle” repeats the earlier introduction, while “The one we used to ride together” is a fragment rather than a smoothly connected sentence. The transition from the practical description to the sentimental memories could also be clearer. Use referencing and linking more deliberately—for instance, connect the bicycle’s condition to why it would suit Benjamin, then introduce the shared memories as a separate reason he might value it.

Lexical Resource: Band 5.5

You use vocabulary that suits a friendly personal letter, including “sentimental values,” “exploring different corners,” and “beloved city,” which help convey the emotional connection. The range is adequate for the topic, but several word choices and collocations are inaccurate or unnatural: “in well being” should be “well,” “holds sentimental values” is more naturally “holds sentimental value,” and “it requires no work or servicing” could be expressed more idiomatically as “it needs no repairs or servicing.” There are also spelling and capitalization slips, including “pheonix,” “everythin,” and lowercase “i.” More precise vocabulary for the bicycle’s condition and intended use would make the description clearer and more natural.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy: Band 6.0

The letter includes a mix of simple and more developed sentence forms, and most of the message remains easy to understand. For example, “My apartment complex is small and there is not enough room for me… to keep my bicycle there” gives a clear reason using a linked clause. Some grammatical errors remain, however. “I have for sale” needs a clearer construction such as “I am selling,” and “The one we used to ride together…” is an incomplete sentence. In “there is not enough room for me me,” the repeated pronoun should be removed. Check sentence completeness, pronoun use, and capitalization of “I”; these corrections would improve accuracy without changing the friendly tone.

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

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