Band 6.0 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 6.0 · Barron's Writing · 2026-10-23

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 Simran,

I hope you are doing well. I am writing this letter to inform you that i would like to sell a bicycle to you which I am not using anymore.

Firstly, I would like to let you know that i am leaving the city for my further studies. I was not using the bicycle from a few months and it is no longer in my use. Furthermore, bicycle is red in colour and has two break pads along it comes with gears so you can shift it anytime while travelling in the hills.

Secondly, I saw your add on facebook that you are looking for a bicycle so I would like to recommend you to come to my place and have a look at the bicycle. If you like the bicycle i will gave you at a reasonable price.

I look forward to hearing from you

Best wishes,

Ayush

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response: Band 6.5

The letter addresses all three required points: you explain that you are leaving the city for further studies, describe the bicycle as red and equipped with gears, and connect the offer to your friend’s Facebook advertisement. The purpose and friendly tone are clear. The reason for no longer using it is relevant, though “I was not using the bicycle from a few months” is not fully clear about when you stopped using it. The description could also be more developed with details such as its condition, size, or suitability for your friend. The offer is understandable, but adding a suggested price or a clear invitation to arrange a viewing would make the message more complete and persuasive.

Coherence and Cohesion: Band 6.5

The information is arranged in a sensible order: you introduce the offer, explain why you are selling, describe the bicycle, and then explain why it may interest Simran. Paragraph breaks help distinguish these points, and phrases such as “Firstly” and “Furthermore” guide the reader. However, the repeated “Firstly” and “Secondly” make the progression somewhat mechanical, and the bicycle description is joined to the reason for selling without a clear transition. Some links between ideas could be smoother—for example, connect the gears to why the bicycle would suit your friend. A more natural sequence of paragraphs and varied linking phrases would make the letter flow more easily.

Lexical Resource: Band 5.5

You use enough vocabulary to communicate the main message, including relevant terms such as “further studies,” “gears,” and “reasonable price.” However, the range is limited and several choices or collocations sound unnatural, which keeps the wording from being consistently precise. For example, “not in my use” would be more naturally expressed as “no longer need it,” and “add on Facebook” should be “advertisement on Facebook.” “Two break pads” is also unclear; the intended bicycle part may be “two brake pads.” Aim to use familiar, accurate expressions rather than forcing less natural phrasing. More precise vocabulary for the bicycle’s condition and features would also strengthen the description.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy: Band 5.5

The letter includes both simple sentences and attempts at longer structures, such as “I saw your add on facebook that you are looking for a bicycle so I would like to recommend you to come to my place.” The main meaning is generally understandable, but some grammatical errors remain. Examples include lowercase “i” instead of “I,” “I was not using the bicycle from a few months,” and “I will gave you,” where the verb form should be “will give.” The sentence describing the bicycle also needs clearer structure and punctuation. Review verb forms after modal verbs, articles, and sentence boundaries, while continuing to practise combining ideas accurately.

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

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