Band 7.0 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer
Overall Band Score: 7.0 · Cambridge IELTS 17 · 2026-07-26
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 7.0)
Dear Mr and Mrs Collins,
I hope you’re doing well! I’ve received your invitation email to join the celebration and surprise birthday party for Chris. He would love a lot when he will advocate that what you have done for him on his special day.
To be honest, you're going to celebrate this memorable event at Dumas Beach, and coincidentally, it was Chris’s dream to enjoy celebrating his birthday in the same place along with the family and close friends. I can see that dream being accomplished soon.
Unfortunately, I would not be able to join the party due to having an exam during the same time period. Given that I’m preparing for the IELTS to secure my admission in the September intake at Australia’s top university, I have to take an IELTS language test and need to get a score soon.
As I’m planning to come there for further study, I have already planned to celebrate his birthday later on. I have already discussed with him meeting in a café along with close friends a week before his birthday, when I will surprise him with a special gift.
Thank you for inviting me to join Chris’s special day. I hope Chris likes your surprise and celebration goes well as you planned.
Your sincerely,
Milan
AI examiner evaluation
| Criterion | Band |
|---|---|
| Task Achievement / Task Response | 7.5 |
| Coherence and Cohesion | 7.5 |
| Lexical Resource | 7.0 |
| Grammatical Range and Accuracy | 6.5 |
| Overall | 7.0 |
Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 7.5
You have addressed all three bullet points of the task effectively. You clearly explained why Chris would enjoy the party, provided a valid reason for your absence, and proposed a concrete alternative plan to meet him. The tone is appropriate for a letter to a friend's parents. However, some phrasing is slightly unnatural, such as 'advocate that what you have done,' which makes the intended meaning a little unclear. Despite this, the purpose of the letter is fully achieved, and the reader understands your message clearly.
Coherence and Cohesion — Band 7.5
The letter is logically organized with a clear introduction, body paragraphs for each requirement, and a polite closing. Paragraphing is used effectively to separate the different points. You use some cohesive devices like 'To be honest,' 'Unfortunately,' and 'Given that,' which help the flow of ideas. However, the transition between the second and third paragraphs could be smoother. The referencing is generally clear, and the letter follows a standard, easy-to-follow structure suitable for a semi-formal correspondence.
Lexical Resource — Band 7.0
You demonstrate a sufficient range of vocabulary to convey your ideas, such as 'memorable event,' 'coincidentally,' and 'accomplished.' There are some instances of awkward word choice, such as 'advocate' instead of 'appreciate' or 'realize,' and 'join the celebration' is slightly repetitive. While you attempt to use more sophisticated language, some collocations are not entirely natural. Nevertheless, the vocabulary is adequate for the task, and your meaning is consistently clear throughout the letter.
Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 6.5
You use a mix of simple and complex sentence structures. There are some grammatical errors, such as 'He would love a lot when he will advocate' (should be 'He will love it when he realizes') and 'I would not be able to join' (should be 'I will not be able to join'). Additionally, 'Your sincerely' is a common error for 'Yours sincerely.' While these errors are noticeable, they do not impede communication. You show a good attempt at using complex structures, though accuracy in tense and word form needs more attention.
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