Band 5.5 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer
Overall Band Score: 5.5 · Cambridge IELTS 17 · 2026-11-08
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 5.5)
Dear Mr and Mrs Collins,
I am writing this letter to inform you that I will not be able to attend surprise birthday party. Chris will enjoy the party even without me as i will meet him later in my free time. For excitement, you should cover Chris eyes with mask or by making a noise by popping a balloon. Other option is that you should close all the lights and fill the room with pleasant smell like vanilla. My exams are currently live that's why it will be difficult for me to attend Chris birthday party. I sincerely apologize for informing you later. However, Chris and I can make a plan to meet after exams as I think that I will be free in fifteen days. I reckon to you for accepting my request. I am looking forward to meet Chris after fifteen days.
Yours faithfully,
X-Y-Z
AI examiner evaluation
| Criterion | Band |
|---|---|
| Task Achievement / Task Response | 5.5 |
| Coherence and Cohesion | 4.5 |
| Lexical Resource | 5.5 |
| Grammatical Range and Accuracy | 5.5 |
| Overall | 5.5 |
Task Achievement / Task Response: Band 5.5
You address all three bullet points: you explain why Chris may enjoy the party, give your exams as the reason you cannot attend, and suggest meeting after the exams. The ideas are relevant, but some are under-developed or unclear. For example, “Chris will enjoy the party even without me” does not clearly explain what he will enjoy about the gathering, while the suggestions about a mask, balloon, lights and vanilla are more specific. Your alternative plan would be clearer with a definite day or activity rather than “in fifteen days.” The apology and closing are appropriate in intent, though “I reckon to you for accepting my request” does not communicate your meaning clearly. The response is also two words below the required minimum, so add a little relevant detail.
Coherence and Cohesion: Band 4.5
The letter follows a broadly sensible order: you introduce your inability to attend, describe possible surprise ideas, explain your exams, and propose meeting later. However, the progression is not consistently clear because several purposes are combined in one paragraph, and the transition from party suggestions to your absence is abrupt. The opening sentence says you are writing to explain that you cannot attend, but the next sentence shifts to how Chris will enjoy the party without a clear link. Paragraphing would help separate the party ideas, your reason for declining, and the alternative plan. Some connections, such as “However,” are used, but the overall organisation and linking between ideas need to be more deliberate.
Lexical Resource: Band 5.5
You use enough vocabulary to communicate the main points, including “surprise birthday party,” “exams,” “apologize,” and “pleasant smell.” There are also attempts to be specific, such as suggesting vanilla or popping a balloon. However, several word choices and collocations are unnatural or unclear, which limits precision: “exams are currently live,” “cover Chris eyes with mask,” and “I reckon to you” do not express the intended meanings naturally. “Close all the lights” is also an imprecise phrase for making a room dark. Aim to learn common combinations for invitations, apologies and plans, and choose wording that suits a friendly letter. More accurate phrasing would make your ideas easier to understand.
Grammatical Range and Accuracy: Band 5.5
You attempt both simple and more complex sentences, including the reason clause “as I think that I will be free in fifteen days.” The main message is generally understandable, but errors in sentence structure, articles, possessives and punctuation remain. For example, “attend surprise birthday party” needs an article, and “Chris eyes” needs a possessive form. In “My exams are currently live that's why it will be difficult,” the two clauses need clearer punctuation or a linking structure. The sentence beginning “For excitement” also has an unclear grammatical construction. Review articles and possessives, and practise joining clauses with appropriate punctuation. These corrections would make the letter more controlled while preserving your attempts at varied sentences.
See this exact question answered at other band scores. The same prompt compared across bands.
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