Band 5.5 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer
Overall Band Score: 5.5 · 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 5.5)
Dear Uncle and Aunty,
I hope this letter finds you in good health and high spirits. I'm so thankful for the invitation to Chris's birthday party on 22th July 2026.
I'm dam sure he will definitely like this surprise party on his special day. He always love to spend quality of time with close friends and family. On his special day, He gonna be thrilled to celebration and get together of their loved ones.
Unfortunately, I won't be able to attend this party as I've a my final exam
AI examiner evaluation
| Criterion | Band |
|---|---|
| Task Achievement / Task Response | 5.5 |
| Coherence and Cohesion | 5.5 |
| Lexical Resource | 5.5 |
| Grammatical Range and Accuracy | 5.5 |
| Overall | 5.5 |
Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 5.5
The response fails to meet the minimum word count requirement of 150 words, as it is only 89 words long. Consequently, the task is incomplete. While you have attempted to address the first two bullet points—explaining why Chris would enjoy the party and why you cannot attend—the third bullet point regarding a plan to see Chris at a different time is entirely missing. The letter is cut off abruptly. To improve, you must ensure all three bullet points are fully developed and that the response meets the length requirement to allow for a complete and coherent letter.
Coherence and Cohesion — Band 5.5
The letter begins with a standard opening, but the lack of completion makes it difficult to assess the overall logical progression. The paragraphs are not clearly structured, and the abrupt ending prevents the use of effective cohesive devices to link the final point to the rest of the letter. To improve, you should use clear paragraph breaks for each bullet point and employ transition words such as 'furthermore', 'however', or 'consequently' to guide the reader through your ideas. The current structure is too fragmented to demonstrate effective cohesion.
Lexical Resource — Band 5.5
The vocabulary is quite limited and contains several informal or inaccurate expressions. Phrases like 'I'm dam sure' are inappropriate for a letter to parents, and 'quality of time' is a misuse of the collocation 'quality time'. There are also errors in word choice, such as 'thrilled to celebration'. To reach a higher band, you should aim for more natural and precise vocabulary. Avoid slang and focus on using standard, polite expressions suitable for a semi-formal or friendly letter. Expanding your range of descriptive adjectives and verbs will also help improve your score.
Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 5.5
There are frequent grammatical errors throughout the short text. Examples include '22th July' (should be 22nd), 'He always love' (subject-verb agreement error), 'He gonna be' (informal/incorrect contraction), and 'I've a my final exam' (incorrect article usage). The sentence structures are simple and repetitive. To improve, focus on basic subject-verb agreement and correct article usage. You should also practice using a wider variety of sentence structures, including complex sentences, while ensuring that your grammar remains accurate. Proofreading for common slips like '22th' is essential.
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