Band 5.5 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 5.5 · 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 5.5)

Dear Gurleen ,

Hope you are doing well !

I am writing this letter to inform you that i am not using my old blue cycle so I want to sell it to you. The reason i was not using that cycle because my father gifted me a new bicycle on my birthday which I like the most rather than my old bicycle. As you know, the blue bicycle is in good condition.I get that bicycle only a year ago .The wheels of the cycle are in good condition no need to change them . There's just one thing to do that you need to colour the bicycle then it looks like a new one .

I was thinking to give it to you because I know you have the bicycle that needs to be changed . Instead of getting new bicycle i want to give to you my old bicycle which was in good condition and seems to be new. Thank you !

Your's sincerely

Ramandeep kaur

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response: Band 6.5

The letter addresses all three required points: you explain that your father gave you a new bicycle, describe the old one as blue and in good condition, and say your friend needs a replacement. The reason for selling is clear, and the details about the wheels and repainting make the description relevant. This is a strong response to the task, although some ideas are less fully developed: for example, you could explain more specifically why your friend would benefit from this bicycle or clarify whether you are offering a particular price. The friendly purpose is apparent, but the closing “Your’s sincerely” is less suitable for a letter to a friend; a warmer sign-off would better match the relationship.

Coherence and Cohesion: Band 5.5

The information follows a generally sensible order: you introduce the reason for writing, explain why you no longer need the bicycle, describe its condition, and then connect the offer to your friend’s needs. This gives the letter an overall coherent arrangement. However, most of the content is presented in one long paragraph, so the shifts between the explanation, description, and offer are not clearly signposted. Some links are also awkward or repetitive, such as “I was thinking to give it to you because” followed by another explanation of the bicycle’s condition. Use separate paragraphs for the main points and clearer transitions, while avoiding repeated references to “the bicycle” and “good condition,” to make progression easier to follow.

Lexical Resource: Band 5.0

Your vocabulary is sufficient to communicate the main message, with useful task-related words such as “gifted,” “wheels,” “condition,” and “change.” The meaning is generally understandable, but the range is limited and several phrases are repetitive or imprecise. For instance, “I like the most rather than my old bicycle” does not express the comparison naturally, and “colour the bicycle” is less precise than naming the likely action of repainting it. “The bicycle that needs to be changed” is also unclear; “needs replacing” would convey your meaning more directly. Aim for natural collocations and vary repeated words, while keeping the friendly tone appropriate to a personal letter.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy: Band 5.5

You use a mixture of simple statements and longer sentences, and the reader can follow the main message. Some grammatical errors remain, particularly with tense, articles, and sentence construction. For example, “I get that bicycle only a year ago” should use the past tense (“I got it only a year ago”), while “The reason i was not using that cycle because” needs a complete structure, such as “The reason I no longer use it is that…”. There are also missing or misplaced articles in “getting new bicycle,” and punctuation and capitalisation are inconsistent. Practise building accurate complex sentences and checking each sentence for a clear subject and verb; this would improve control without sacrificing the detail in your letter.

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

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