Band 7.5 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 7.5 · Cambridge IELTS 17 · 2026-07-29

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 received you invitation for the surprise birthday party that your are planning for Chris. I know how much Chris love's his birthday and how fond he is of surprises so I think it is an amazing idea to make his birthday even more special. Plus I think this surprise party will also help cheer his mood as he has been under a lot of stress because of the project that he is working on for his final term at school.

I was very excited when I received your invitation for the party but unfortunately I would not be able to attend the party this time as I have a very important exam on that day and I also need to drive my mom to her doctor's appointment later in the noon for her monthly check up. I apologize for the same however I am going to call him on his birthday to wish him.

I was planning on flying to Australia next month from the 5th of August to 30th August with my family for vacation and I will be Chris on the 18th of August during our trip to Sydney.

Yours truly

MT

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 8.5

The response successfully addresses all three bullet points in the prompt. You clearly explain why Chris will enjoy the party, provide a valid reason for your absence, and propose a specific plan to meet him later. 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, ensuring the reader understands the situation clearly. No parts of the task were omitted, and the purpose of the letter is achieved effectively.

Coherence and Cohesion — Band 8.0

The letter is logically organized with a clear progression of ideas. Each paragraph focuses on a specific requirement of the task, which helps the reader follow your points easily. You use some cohesive devices, such as 'Plus', 'but unfortunately', and 'however', to link your thoughts. While the transition between the second and third paragraphs could be slightly smoother, the overall structure is coherent. Paragraphing is used appropriately to separate the different sections of the letter, contributing to a professional and easy-to-read layout.

Lexical Resource — Band 7.0

You demonstrate an adequate range of vocabulary for this task. Phrases like 'fond of surprises', 'under a lot of stress', and 'monthly check-up' are used correctly and naturally. There are a few minor errors, such as 'later in the noon' (which should be 'later in the afternoon') and 'I will be Chris' (which should be 'I will be seeing Chris'). Despite these occasional slips, the vocabulary is sufficient to convey your meaning clearly and effectively 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 'I received you invitation' (your), 'your are planning' (you are), and 'Chris love's' (loves). Additionally, there are some punctuation issues, such as missing commas after introductory phrases. However, these errors do not impede communication, and the meaning remains clear. To reach a higher band, focus on proofreading for subject-verb agreement and possessive pronouns, and try to incorporate a wider variety of complex sentence structures with greater precision.

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