Band 6.0 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 6.0 · Barron's Writing · 2026-10-25

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 Max,

I'm just writing to let you know that I'm selling my bicycle.

As I have bought a new motor bike, I'm not using anymore my bicycle. Therefore I thought of selling it. In fact the bicycle is in a good condition without a single damage in it.

The bicycle's brand is hercules and it was purchased 6 months ago at their official bicycle shop which is located in Barry's street. This bicycle is with flexible handle, electronic bell and lights, chain fucntions smoothly and surprisingly you can change the speed similar a motorbike.

As far as i remember, when we met last time you were telling me on the phone you're looking to buy a bicycle but its not affordable at that moment. So i thought may be my bicycle would good for your budget. Particulary I am not expecting huge amount of money for selling this bicycle only to you. I can offer you with 50% discounted price from my origianal payment, also it wasn't used much.

I'd be really grateful that if you're interested to buy my bicycle, please feel free to confirm me by replying to this letter.

All the best,

Dhinesh

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response: Band 7.0

The letter addresses all three points clearly: you explain that you have bought a motorbike, describe the bicycle’s age and features, and connect the offer to Max’s earlier wish to buy one and his budget. The 50% discount also makes the proposal specific and persuasive. These relevant details and the consistently friendly purpose support a strong response. To make the ideas more fully developed, explain briefly why the bicycle itself would suit Max—for example, whether its gears or lights would be useful for his usual journeys. The description is informative, though a few features are listed rather than linked to his needs.

Coherence and Cohesion: Band 6.5

The information follows a sensible sequence: you introduce the sale, explain why you no longer need the bicycle, describe it, and then make the offer. Paragraphing helps distinguish these stages, and links such as “Therefore” and “As far as I remember” guide the reader. This is a coherent overall arrangement. However, some connections feel mechanical or unclear, particularly “Therefore I thought of selling it” and the transition from the bicycle’s features to Max’s budget. The final request also repeats the idea of being interested in the purchase. To move further, use more natural links between the bicycle’s qualities and why they would appeal to Max, and make the closing more concise.

Lexical Resource: Band 5.5

You use enough vocabulary to explain the offer and give concrete details, including “electronic bell,” “change the speed,” and “50% discounted price.” The tone is generally appropriate for a friendly letter. However, several noticeable word-choice, collocation, and spelling problems make parts less natural: “flexible handle,” “chain functions smoothly,” “huge amount of money,” and “confirm me” do not express the intended meanings idiomatically. There are also spelling errors such as “fucntions,” “Particulary,” and “origianal.” Build accuracy by learning common combinations such as “adjustable handlebars,” “the chain runs smoothly,” and “reply to confirm.”

Grammatical Range and Accuracy: Band 5.5

The letter includes both simple statements and attempts at longer structures, such as “As far as I remember, when we met last time you were telling me…” and “I can offer you…”. The meaning is generally understandable, but errors occur in sentence construction and grammatical patterns. For example, “I'm not using anymore my bicycle” has awkward word order, while “this bicycle would good for your budget” is missing a verb. In “I'd be really grateful that if you're interested,” the clause structure is faulty. There are also inconsistent capitalisation and punctuation, including lowercase “i” and “hercules.” Practise accurate conditional and request forms, such as “I thought my bicycle might suit your budget” and “I’d be grateful if you could let me know.”

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

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