Band 4.5 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 4.5 · Barron's Writing · 2026-10-10

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 4.5)

hello how are you dear muzamil i hpe you are felling well i just wanted to tell you that i just want to sell my bicyle for the to you if you want to buy it. just because i wanna sell thi cause i wantted to buy a new bike and i have a less mony to buy this and i wana some more mony thats why . my bycyle is very good at its condition it have no dent no scratches on it . it is fully furneshed yet. i just used it more the 2 months and now i just want to buy a new bike that way i wanted to change it if you will buy it for your sellf you well be very happy and i also collect my for me i will very for this and you would like to have this it is very comfortable wheels and you enjoy it . if you want this then inform me and write a letter to me thanku

dear muzamil

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response: Band 5.5

You address the main purpose and all three requested points: you say you want to sell the bicycle, explain that you need money towards a new one, describe it as being in good condition, and suggest your friend would enjoy its comfort. These details keep the letter relevant. However, some points are only briefly developed: the bicycle’s description is limited to having no dents or scratches and being used for two months, while the reason your friend would like it is not clearly supported. The offer and price are also unclear, and the closing request to “write a letter to me” does not fit naturally. Add specific features and a clear, friendly offer to make the message more complete.

Coherence and Cohesion: Band 4.0

The ideas broadly follow a sensible order: you introduce the sale, give your reason, describe the bicycle, and explain why your friend might want it. However, the response is presented as one long block, with little punctuation to show where one idea ends and another begins. Repeated links such as “and,” “that’s why,” and “if” make the progression difficult to follow, and some references are unclear, as in “I also collect my for me.” Use separate paragraphs for the reason, description, and recommendation, and connect them with a small range of clear transitions. A conventional greeting and sign-off would also help the letter feel organised.

Lexical Resource: Band 4.5

You use enough basic vocabulary to communicate the central message, including “sell,” “new bike,” “condition,” “scratches,” and “comfortable.” However, the range is limited and several spelling and word-choice errors make parts difficult to understand, such as “bicyle,” “furneshed,” “mony,” and “collect my for me.” Some phrases are also unnatural or imprecise, including “very comfortable wheels” and “buy it for your sellf.” Choose familiar but accurate expressions rather than attempting unclear wording: for example, describe the bicycle as “in excellent condition” and say it has “comfortable wheels” only if that is what you mean. Proofreading spelling and using precise phrases would make your message easier to read.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy: Band 4.5

The response relies mainly on simple clauses, with attempts to join ideas using “because,” “if,” and “and.” These attempts show some effort to vary sentence structure, but many sentences are difficult to follow because of frequent errors in verb forms, agreement, articles, and sentence boundaries. For example, “it have no dent” needs a plural subject-verb form, while “if you will buy it” is not the usual conditional structure. The opening also runs several sentences together without punctuation. Practise writing short, complete sentences first, then combine related ideas accurately—for instance, “I’m selling it because I’m saving for a new bike.” Check verb forms and punctuation carefully.

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

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