Band 6.5 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer
Overall Band Score: 6.5 · Cambridge IELTS 17 · 2026-11-05
IELTS Writing Task 1 question
The parents of your Australian friend Chris have invited you to a surprise birthday party for him/her. Write a letter to Chris's parents. In your letter:
- say why you think Chris will enjoy the surprise party
- explain why you won't be able to attend the party
- give details of a plan to see Chris at a different time
You do NOT need to write any addresses.
Begin your letter as follows:
Dear Mr and Mrs Collins,
Student answer (Band 6.5)
Dear Mr and Mrs Collins,
I hope you are doing well. I would like to thank you for inviting me in a Chris's birthday party. However, I will not be able to attend a party due to my final exam. I am sure Chris will like your surprise. He told me during college days that he likes to spend special occasion with his family so this is celebration will surely fulfill his wish.
I wish I could come for a party, but I have my final exam on the same day and it is very unfortunate that I cannot reschedule my test. I would like you to take as many pictures as you can because I am planning to visit your hometown after my exam and I would love to see them.
Could you please allow me to host you for a dinner with Chris on weekend? So we can chat about the function in a peaceful manner. I look forward to hearing from you.
Thank you
Kind regards,
Vaibhav
AI examiner evaluation
| Criterion | Band |
|---|---|
| Task Achievement / Task Response | 6.5 |
| Coherence and Cohesion | 6.5 |
| Lexical Resource | 6.0 |
| Grammatical Range and Accuracy | 6.0 |
| Overall | 6.5 |
Task Achievement / Task Response: Band 6.5
You address all three points: you explain that Chris enjoys family celebrations, give your final exam as the reason you cannot attend, and suggest meeting for dinner on the weekend. The explanation of Chris’s likely enjoyment is relevant, and the exam conflict is clear. However, the first point could be developed more specifically—for example, by explaining why the surprise itself would appeal to Chris. The alternative plan is also somewhat unclear: “host you for a dinner with Chris” does not specify whether you mean the parents and Chris, or propose a particular day or time. Adding a concrete arrangement and a little more support would make the letter more fully developed.
Coherence and Cohesion: Band 6.5
The letter has a clear overall sequence: you respond to the invitation, explain your absence, and then propose another occasion to meet. Paragraphing helps separate these purposes, and phrases such as “However” and “I look forward to hearing from you” guide the reader. Some connections are less smooth, though. The reason for asking the parents to take pictures follows the exam explanation but interrupts the move toward arranging a later visit. Also, “So we can chat about the function” is attached to the dinner suggestion in a way that feels abrupt. Grouping the absence and photo request together, then making the alternative plan more directly, would improve progression and cohesion.
Lexical Resource: Band 6.0
Your vocabulary is adequate for this personal letter, and expressions such as “final exam,” “reschedule,” and “I look forward to hearing from you” communicate the main ideas clearly. You also attempt more specific language, including “special occasion” and “peaceful manner,” but some choices are inaccurate or unnatural: “inviting me in a Chris’s birthday party,” “this is celebration,” and “chat about the function” do not fit the intended meaning or collocation. “Function” is also less natural than “party” in this context. Aim for precise, natural phrases such as “inviting me to Chris’s birthday party” and “celebrate with his family.” These improvements would make the message sound more fluent and idiomatic.
Grammatical Range and Accuracy: Band 6.0
You use a mix of simple and more complex sentences, including “I am sure Chris will like your surprise” and the sentence explaining that the exam cannot be rescheduled. Most of the message remains understandable, but some grammatical errors are noticeable. For example, “I would like to thank you for inviting me in a Chris’s birthday party” has problems with the preposition and article, while “this is celebration will surely fulfill his wish” has an incorrect sentence structure. In “Could you please allow me to host you for a dinner,” the article is not needed before “dinner.” Review articles, prepositions, and sentence construction, and proofread longer sentences to improve accuracy while retaining your range of structures.
See this exact question answered at other band scores. The same prompt compared across bands.
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