Band 7.0 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 7.0 · 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 7.0)

Dear Ahmed,

I wanted to share that I am selling my bicycle and I believe it can be beneficial for you. I bought this bicycle almost a year ago and it's still in brand new condition.

I changed my job soon after getting my bicycle and could no longer use it since my office is far away. I used it primarily to commute to work but now I have drive to my office. The bicycle is in perfect condition as it's barely used and all the funtions work great. It's black and red in color, has 5 gears and strong breaks. The seat is very comforting and has good cushioning.

I remember you mentioning that you were looking for a bicycle and I think this is an amazing deal for you. I am selling it for 50% of the price I bought it for. You can test ride it as well to see if it fits you well.

If you have any questions or clarifications required, let me know.

Regards,

Saif

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response: Band 7.5

The letter addresses all three points clearly: you explain that a job change made the commute impractical, describe the bicycle’s condition and features, and connect the offer to Ahmed’s earlier interest. Details such as its black-and-red colour, five gears, cushioned seat, and half-price offer make the proposal relevant and persuasive. The reason for selling is especially clear, while the description could be developed slightly further with a detail such as the bicycle’s type or size. The claim that it is “in brand new condition” sits somewhat awkwardly beside the fact that it is almost a year old, so a more measured description would make the offer more credible. Overall, the purpose and tone are clear and the ideas are supported.

Coherence and Cohesion: Band 7.0

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 to Ahmed. Paragraphing helps separate these stages, and links such as “since,” “but now,” and “I remember” make the relationships between ideas easy to follow. The closing invitation to ask questions also gives the letter a natural ending. Cohesion is generally clear, though some transitions are quite basic and the description combines condition, appearance, and features in one long paragraph. You could make progression smoother by grouping the bicycle’s physical details together and using a more varied transition into the reason Ahmed might want it.

Lexical Resource: Band 6.0

You use an adequate range for this informal letter, including relevant terms such as “commute,” “cushioning,” “test ride,” and “50% of the price.” These choices communicate the bicycle’s use and appeal effectively. However, some word choices and collocations are inaccurate or less natural: “beneficial for you” sounds formal and vague in a friendly offer, “comforting” is not the usual description of a bicycle seat, and “all the funtions work great” is imprecise. There are also spelling errors in “funtions” and “breaks.” More precise, natural phrasing—such as “in excellent working order” and “comfortable, well-padded seat”—would improve control and make the description more convincing.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy: Band 6.5

The letter uses a mix of simple and more developed sentence forms, and most of the meaning remains clear. For example, “I remember you mentioning that you were looking for a bicycle” combines ideas effectively, while the explanation of the job change is easy to understand. Some grammatical errors remain: “now I have drive to my office” needs an infinitive (“have to drive”), and “I bought this bicycle almost a year ago and it's still…” would be clearer with a comma or a separate sentence. The phrase “If you have any questions or clarifications required” is also awkwardly constructed; “If you have any questions or need clarification” is more grammatical. Greater accuracy in these patterns, alongside the sentence variety already present, would strengthen the letter.

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

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