Band 5.5 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 5.5 · Barron's Writing · 2026-11-04

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 John,

I am writing this with reference to my bicycle, I have this bicycle since 2021 and i love this one, because it makes my life easy.

While i was in colleage i bought this from official factory outlet, this brand products speaks itself.

During my colleage, afterwards my graduation and masters time, i used to move to and fro to my colleague university , you know my colleage have seperate parking area for bicycle.

As you got an admission on the same colleage, I recommend you to use my bicycle, as my activites are different now after graduation.

This is simple easy way to commute to your colleage and university, this model is the flagship model, and you cannot find on easily in used bicycle market.

Maintaince for this bicycle is extremely low and condition as good new. I request you to take this from my home backyard. As i cleaned all the things for you inorder to avoid any hassle.

Thank and best regards

Asad

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response: Band 6.0

You address all three points: you explain that your activities changed after graduation, describe the bicycle as a flagship model with low maintenance and good condition, and recommend it because John is attending the same college. These details make the offer relevant and understandable. However, some points are only briefly developed: the reason you no longer use it is vague, and the description would be more convincing with concrete features such as its colour, age, or condition. The claim that the brand “speaks itself” also does not explain why the bicycle is worth buying. Add a clearer reason for selling and more specific details to make the letter more complete and persuasive.

Coherence and Cohesion: Band 5.5

The letter follows a generally sensible order, moving from your history with the bicycle to its suitability for John and the arrangements for collecting it. The opening and sign-off also establish the letter format. However, paragraphing is limited, and several ideas are crowded into long sentences, particularly the account of using the bicycle during college and later studies. Some links are awkward or unclear, such as “During my college, afterwards my graduation and masters time,” while repeated references to college make the progression feel less smooth. Organise the letter into clear paragraphs for the reason for selling, the bicycle’s features, and why John would benefit. Use simpler, more precise transitions between these points.

Lexical Resource: Band 5.5

You use some task-relevant vocabulary, including “commute,” “flagship model,” “parking area,” and “maintenance,” which helps convey the bicycle’s usefulness and quality. There are also attempts at persuasive wording, such as describing it as a model that is hard to find on the used market. However, noticeable spelling and word-choice errors sometimes make the message less natural: “colleage,” “seperate,” “activites,” and “inorder” are misspelled, while “this brand products speaks itself” is an unclear expression. Phrases such as “simple easy way” and “condition as good new” also need more natural collocations. Check spelling carefully and choose familiar, accurate phrases rather than forcing promotional language.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy: Band 5.0

The letter attempts both simple and more extended sentence forms, for example, “As you got an admission on the same college, I recommend you to use my bicycle.” The main message is usually understandable, but errors in verb forms, sentence boundaries, articles, and prepositions are evident. “I have this bicycle since 2021” needs a present perfect form, and the opening joins two independent clauses with a comma. In “I recommend you to use,” the verb pattern is incorrect; “I recommend that you use” would be grammatical. Other examples include “on the same college” and “condition as good new.” Use shorter, controlled sentences first, then check tense, verb patterns, and punctuation before adding more complex structures.

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

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