Band 7.5 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer
Overall Band Score: 7.5 · Cambridge IELTS 17 · 2026-08-02
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)
Hello Mr Shah,
I am very grateful to write this letter in response to the invitation to Chris's 20th birthday this year. I want to mention that the surprise party you are hosting will make him feel flabbergasted. I deeply think it will be the most memorable day for him.
On the day of his birthday, one of the international clients is visiting the Head Office to finalize the contract. Additionally, there are also some tasks that are reaching their deadline during this time. Due to the first year of my joining this project requiring me to attend all the parties connected to the relevant project being part of the company policy and is totally unavoidable.
However, I am planning to take a flight on his birthday evening, 28th August, 2026. The next day, on 29th August, I have planned to take him to brunch at his favourite place, "Kalinga," if he has some free time from work. Moreover, I booked tickets for our long-awaited movie 'Spiderman-2' at Landmark Cinema. At the end, we will be going for dessert at "D spot".
I am deeply sad as I will miss the amazing birthday party; nevertheless, I will spend quality time with him afterwards.
With Love,
Aakash
AI examiner evaluation
| Criterion | Band |
|---|---|
| Task Achievement / Task Response | 7.0 |
| Coherence and Cohesion | 8.0 |
| Lexical Resource | 7.0 |
| Grammatical Range and Accuracy | 7.0 |
| Overall | 7.5 |
Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 7.0
The letter addresses all three bullet points required by the prompt. You clearly explain why Chris will enjoy the party, provide a valid reason for your absence, and offer a concrete plan to meet him later. However, there is a significant error in the salutation: you addressed the letter to 'Mr Shah' instead of the requested 'Mr and Mrs Collins'. This is a failure to follow specific instructions provided in the prompt. While the content is relevant and well-developed, this oversight impacts the task achievement score.
Coherence and Cohesion — Band 8.0
The letter is logically organized with a clear introduction, body paragraphs, and a conclusion. You use cohesive devices such as 'Additionally', 'However', and 'nevertheless' to link your ideas. The progression of information is easy to follow. Paragraphing is used appropriately to separate the reason for absence from the future plans. The flow is generally smooth, though some transitions feel slightly mechanical. Overall, the structure is effective and supports the purpose of the letter.
Lexical Resource — Band 7.0
You demonstrate a good range of vocabulary, such as 'unavoidable', 'memorable', and 'quality time'. However, there are some issues with word choice and collocation. For instance, 'flabbergasted' is used incorrectly here; it usually implies shock or disbelief, which is not appropriate for a surprise party. 'Deeply think' is also an unnatural collocation; 'I strongly believe' would be more appropriate. Despite these minor inaccuracies, the vocabulary is sufficient to convey your meaning clearly throughout the letter.
Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 7.0
You use a mix of simple and complex sentence structures, such as the conditional 'if he has some free time'. There are some grammatical slips, such as 'Due to the first year of my joining... requiring me to attend... is totally unavoidable', which is a fragmented and confusing sentence structure. Additionally, 'I am very grateful to write this letter' is slightly unnatural; 'I am writing to express my gratitude' would be better. While these errors exist, they do not impede communication, and your meaning remains clear.
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