Band 5.5 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 5.5 · Barron's Writing · 2026-10-20

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 John,

I hope you and your family are doing well and life is going too smooth. what's going on. Last week, you were talking about to buy a bicycle for going to school. I would like to sell a bicycle beacuse i have no longer using it.

I am no longer using a bicycle in my daily routine because i had bought a new bike which i offenly use in my daily routine. Therefore it stands without any need and I think it could be damaged if it stands without any no longer using.

It has black and silver colour. The tyres are also in appropriate condition. It has also a good speed. It looks fantastic because i modified it with modern style. I sell it for Rupees 2000.

I think you would like it beacuse it looks attractive and have a favourite colour as yours. I assure that you have also a need of it for going to school. Tell me when you will come to take it?

Yours loving,

Noor.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response: Band 6.0

The letter addresses all three required points: you explain that you have stopped using the bicycle because you bought another one, describe its colour and condition, and say why John might want it for school. The friendly opening and offer to sell it for 2,000 rupees also suit the situation. Some details are less fully developed, however. The bicycle’s description is brief, and “It has also a good speed” does not explain what makes it suitable or useful. The reason your friend would like it is also somewhat unclear: saying it is an attractive colour he likes and that he needs transport for school gives relevant reasons, but these could be explained more specifically. Add a few concrete details about its features and suitability.

Coherence and Cohesion: Band 6.0

The information is arranged in a generally clear sequence: greeting and purpose, reason for selling, description and price, then the appeal to your friend and a closing question. Paragraphing helps the reader follow these stages, and linking words such as “Therefore” and “because” show relationships between ideas. Some connections are awkward or repetitive, though. “In my daily routine” appears twice close together, and “without any need” followed by “without any no longer using” makes the explanation difficult to follow. The opening also shifts abruptly from a greeting to “what’s going on.” To improve progression, use each paragraph for one clear purpose and make references such as “it” unambiguous, while choosing transitions that connect ideas naturally.

Lexical Resource: Band 5.0

You use enough vocabulary to communicate the main points, including words for the bicycle’s appearance, condition, use and price: “black and silver colour,” “tyres,” “modified,” and “Rupees 2000.” However, the range is limited and several word choices or collocations sound unnatural, which sometimes makes the message less clear. For example, “life is going too smooth,” “a good speed,” and “stands without any need” are not natural expressions in this context. There are also spelling and word-form slips, including “beacuse” and “offenly.” Aim for familiar but precise phrases such as “runs smoothly,” “in good condition,” and “I no longer use it,” and check spelling before sending the letter.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy: Band 5.0

The letter includes both simple sentences and attempts at longer structures, for example, “I am no longer using a bicycle in my daily routine because…” and “I think you would like it because…”. The main message remains understandable, but some grammatical errors recur and occasionally make sentences awkward. In “I have no longer using it,” the verb form is incorrect; write “I no longer use it” or “I have no longer been using it.” “It has also a good speed” needs the adverb in a different position, and “I think you would like it … and have a favourite colour” has an unclear subject and agreement. Capitalise “What’s” after the full stop and use consistent sentence punctuation. Practise accurate verb forms and sentence boundaries while retaining varied structures.

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

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