Band 5.5 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 5.5 · Barron's Writing · 2026-10-30

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 friend,

i hope your are doing well. i came to know you are looking for bicycle from one of my friends. i have a bicycle that i purchased last year just to go to park for exercise.

However, since i got job in long term as a nurse my schedule is very busy. Due to this, i am not going to park for exercise and this bicycle is not useful for me theresire I want to sell this. You know me how i keep my things and this bike is also in very good condition as new. I hardly used this for 6 months, its tire, mudgurd and bell just like untouched.

Honestly, its is very close to me and i want to give this to someone who can keep it as tidy as i kept. when i knew you are looking for bike i decided to sell it to you. I donnot want its price value but you can give me any

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response: Band 6.0

You address all three points: you explain that your nursing job leaves you too busy to cycle, describe the bicycle as being in very good condition and lightly used, and say you chose your friend because they are looking for one and will care for it. These details make the purpose clear and relevant. However, the description is quite brief: “tire, mudgurd and bell” are mentioned as untouched, but the bicycle’s type, colour, or other useful features are not given. The reason your friend would like it is also only partly developed; you could explain how its condition or suitability would benefit them. The ending, “you can give me any,” leaves the price arrangement incomplete. Develop these points and finish with a clear, friendly request.

Coherence and Cohesion: Band 6.0

The ideas follow a generally sensible order: you introduce the bicycle, explain why you no longer need it, describe its condition, and then say why you are offering it to your friend. Connectors such as “However,” “Due to this,” and “Honestly” help signal the shifts between ideas. The overall organisation is understandable, but the response is presented as one continuous block, so the main stages of the letter are not clearly separated. Some links are also awkward or unclear, particularly “You know me how i keep my things” and the transition from the bicycle’s condition to your wish to sell it. Use short paragraphs for the reason, description, and offer, and make references and transitions more direct.

Lexical Resource: Band 5.5

You use enough everyday vocabulary to communicate the main message, including “schedule,” “exercise,” “good condition,” and “sell.” There are also attempts at more specific terms, such as “mudgurd” and “untouched,” but spelling and word choice errors reduce precision. Phrases such as “got job in long term,” “looking for bicycle,” and “I donnot want its price value” are not natural in this context and may make the reader pause to interpret your meaning. The vocabulary is therefore adequate for the task but not consistently controlled. Aim for accurate, natural collocations—for example, “my work schedule is very busy,” “looking for a bicycle,” and “I’m not asking for a fixed price”—and check spelling before sending the letter.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy: Band 5.0

You attempt both simple and longer sentence forms, and the reader can generally follow the main message. For example, “since i got job in long term as a nurse my schedule is very busy” tries to explain a cause, while “when i knew you are looking for bike i decided to sell it to you” links events. However, errors in articles, verb forms, and sentence construction occur in these longer clauses, and some sentences run together without clear punctuation. There are also problems with forms such as “i hope your are doing well” and “its is very close to me.” Use a wider range of sentence patterns, but keep each clause controlled: “Since I started my nursing job, my schedule has become very busy.” Check articles, tense consistency, and sentence boundaries.

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

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