Band 7.5 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 7.5 · 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 7.5)

Dear Mr and Mrs Collins

I hope you are welI. I am very delighted that you invited me to a party and I hope you have a fantastic time together .

I know Chris will going to love this surprise a party as he love surprises and he always says that delight surprises are more fun then getting expensive gifts. Unfortunately, I will not be able to attend Chris's birthday party next week.

As you know, I am currently pursuing my bachelor's degree, and my final examinations are scheduled for the same week. Since these exams are very important for my academic progress, I am unable to miss them. However, I have arranged a special surprise gift for Chris. I have bought him a PlayStation 5, which he has wanted for a long time. I hope this gift makes his birthday even more memorable.

On a happier note, I have also enclosed a copy of my flight ticket for my trip to Italy on 2nd September with him .I am really excited that we will finally meet again . I am looking forward to spending quality time together, exploring the beautiful places in Italy, and creating more unforgettable memories.

Please give Chris my warmest birthday wishes. I hope he has a fantastic celebration, and I cannot wait to see his reaction when he opens my gift.

I look forward to seeing you all in September.

Yours sincerely,

Sukhman

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 8.0

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 plan to meet him later. The tone is appropriate for a letter to a friend's parents, maintaining a polite and warm register throughout. The ideas are well-developed and relevant to the task requirements. To reach a higher band, ensure that all parts of the prompt are balanced; for instance, the explanation of the gift is quite detailed, while the plan to meet Chris could be slightly more integrated into the narrative flow. Overall, the response is fully functional and meets the task requirements effectively.

Coherence and Cohesion — Band 7.5

The letter is logically organized with a clear progression of ideas. Each paragraph focuses on a specific aspect of the task, which helps the reader follow your points easily. You use a variety of cohesive devices such as 'However', 'As you know', and 'On a happier note' to link your sentences and paragraphs effectively. The paragraphing is appropriate for a formal letter. While the flow is generally smooth, some transitions could be more sophisticated to avoid a slightly mechanical feel. Overall, the structure is clear, and the information is presented in a logical sequence that supports the purpose of your letter.

Lexical Resource — Band 7.0

You demonstrate a sufficient range of vocabulary to convey your message with precision. Phrases like 'pursuing my bachelor's degree' and 'unforgettable memories' are used effectively. There are some minor errors, such as 'delight surprises' (should be 'delightful') and 'he love surprises' (subject-verb agreement). While these do not impede communication, they indicate a need for more careful proofreading. You have attempted to use some less common vocabulary, which is good, but ensure that collocations are accurate. Expanding your range of descriptive adjectives and adverbs would further enhance the quality of your writing.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 6.5

You use a mix of simple and complex sentence structures, which is appropriate for this task. There are several grammatical errors, such as 'Chris will going to love' (should be 'will love' or 'is going to love') and 'more fun then' (should be 'more fun than'). Additionally, there are minor punctuation and spacing issues, such as 'welI' and 'party .'. Despite these errors, the meaning remains clear throughout the letter. To improve, focus on subject-verb agreement and the correct use of comparative structures. Increasing the frequency of error-free complex sentences will help you achieve a higher band score.

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