Band 8.5 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer
Overall Band Score: 8.5 · 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 8.5)
Dear Mr and Mrs Collins,
I hope you’re doing well! I’ve received your invitation email about the surprise birthday party for Chris. He will be thrilled when he sees what you have done for him on his special day.
To be honest, you have arranged a celebration at Dumas Beach, and apparently, it was Chris’s dream to enjoy celebrating his birthday in the same place along with his family and close friends. I can see that dream being accomplished soon.
Unfortunately, I will 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 for the September intake at Australia’s top university, I have to prepare for the exam 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 Chris’s special day. I hope Chris likes your surprise and the celebration goes well as you planned.
Yours sincerely,
Milan
AI examiner evaluation
| Criterion | Band |
|---|---|
| Task Achievement / Task Response | 8.5 |
| Coherence and Cohesion | 8.5 |
| Lexical Resource | 8.0 |
| Grammatical Range and Accuracy | 8.5 |
| Overall | 8.5 |
Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 8.5
You have successfully addressed all three bullet points in the prompt. 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, maintaining a polite and friendly register throughout. The ideas are well-developed and relevant to the task requirements. There is a clear sense of purpose, and the letter flows logically from the opening to the closing, meeting all the requirements of a General Training Task 1 letter.
Coherence and Cohesion — Band 8.5
The letter is well-organized with clear paragraphing. Each paragraph focuses on a specific aspect of the prompt, which helps the reader follow your ideas easily. You use cohesive devices such as 'Unfortunately', 'Given that', and 'As I’m planning to' to connect your thoughts effectively. The progression of ideas is logical, moving from the acknowledgement of the invitation to the explanation of your absence and finally to the alternative plan. The referencing is clear, and the overall structure is coherent and easy to follow.
Lexical Resource — Band 8.0
You demonstrate a good range of vocabulary that is appropriate for the context. Phrases like 'thrilled', 'secure my admission', and 'accomplished' show a level of lexical flexibility. While the vocabulary is generally accurate and natural, there is room for slightly more sophisticated collocations to reach the highest band. For instance, instead of 'get a score', you could use 'achieve a target score'. Overall, your word choice is precise enough to convey your message clearly and effectively without any noticeable errors that impede communication.
Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 8.5
You use a variety of sentence structures, including complex sentences such as 'Given that I’m preparing for the IELTS to secure my admission..., I have to prepare for the exam'. Your control over grammar is strong, with the majority of sentences being error-free. Punctuation is used correctly throughout the letter. There are no significant grammatical errors that distract the reader. The use of tenses is consistent and appropriate for the narrative you are constructing, showing a good command of English grammar.
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