Band 5.0 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 5.0 · 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 5.0)

Dear,Jashan

Actually i am informing to you by regarding my bicycle which i want to sell it because i unable to ride this bicycle in recent time. Because i enrolled in punjab university in agricultre stream therefore due to my hectic routine this is problematic for me to prevent from a rusting therefore if you will purchase it this would be fruitful for both of us.As you know, my father gave me a this bicycle on my birthday as a memorable present when I was in a senior secondary

classs.Therefore, i cannot sell this to anyone as well it would be beneficial for your schedule because you need mode of transport for going to your college because your campus is in city because of the lots of traffic you are unable to travel by car or bike thats why you should purchse this amazing thing for improving your routine.

thanks

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response: Band 5.0

You address the main purpose by explaining that university and a hectic routine mean you no longer ride the bicycle, and you connect the offer to your friend’s need for transport to college. You also mention its sentimental history as a birthday present. However, the bicycle itself is not described: the reader learns nothing about its condition, appearance, age, or features. The reason your friend might want it is relevant but remains general, and the letter does not clearly state the selling terms or invite a response. These omissions make the task only partially fulfilled, with key ideas under-developed. Add a brief, concrete description and make the offer and next step explicit.

Coherence and Cohesion: Band 4.5

The response contains a recognisable sequence: you introduce the sale, explain why you no longer use the bicycle, then give reasons your friend might want it. However, it is presented as one dense paragraph, so the shifts between these points are difficult to follow. Several connectors are repeated or used awkwardly, especially “because” in the final long sentence and “therefore” between ideas. The opening also runs directly into the message without a natural greeting format, and “thanks” does not provide a clear closing. Use separate paragraphs for the explanation and the offer, and connect ideas with fewer, more precise transitions. This would make the progression clearer and reduce the current repetition.

Lexical Resource: Band 5.0

You use some vocabulary relevant to the situation, including “hectic routine,” “mode of transport,” and “memorable present,” so the reader can understand the general message. However, the range is limited and several word choices or collocations are inaccurate, such as “prevent from a rusting,” “fruitful for both of us,” and “improving your routine.” Spelling errors such as “agricultre,” “classs,” and “purchse” also make the writing less clear and polished. Aim for straightforward, natural expressions rather than ambitious phrases that do not fit the meaning. For example, describe the bicycle as being at risk of rusting and say that it would be useful for your friend’s commute.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy: Band 5.0

You attempt to combine ideas using subordinate clauses, as in “because i enrolled in punjab university … therefore due to my hectic routine,” but these longer structures are often faulty or difficult to follow. There are frequent problems with sentence boundaries and clause construction: the opening is a fragment-like run-on, and the final sentence joins several reasons without clear punctuation. Other examples include “i unable to ride” and “if you will purchase it,” where the verb forms are not correctly constructed for the intended meaning. Capitalisation and punctuation are also inconsistent. Practise building accurate simple sentences first, then combine them with one clear connector at a time; this will make your meaning easier to understand.

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

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