Band 5.0 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 5.0 · Cambridge IELTS 17 · 2026-08-03

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 5.0)

dear sir,

I hope you are doing well. I am writing this letter to inform you about my friends Chris parents birthday party.

i hope you you enjoy this party because i personally decorate this BIRTHDAY party at my farm house. i have surprise for you Ferthermore, it's your first time celebrate birthday in Australian.

i know is it your special day and you are very happy this day. you are attend this event any important work drop. every one thinking and take day off at birthday day.

i can send you address , time and location its easy to find out. i know yours and me time are very different but we are manage.

i do all arrangements your house near by around 3hr drive way.

your son Chris and me we are very close friends and we study togethers sem college in Australia. we both are help to any difficulty situations and any study problems.

i am looking forward to hearing back soon.

Your faithfully,

Rajan

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 5.0

The response addresses the three bullet points, but the content is often confusing and irrelevant. You mention decorating the party yourself at a farmhouse, which contradicts the prompt's premise that the parents are hosting a surprise party for Chris. Furthermore, you fail to explain why you cannot attend; instead, you provide confusing statements about work and travel. The tone is also inconsistent, as you address the parents but then seem to address Chris directly in the second paragraph. To improve, ensure your ideas directly answer the prompt's requirements and maintain a consistent perspective throughout the letter.

Coherence and Cohesion — Band 5.0

The letter lacks a logical flow. Paragraphing is present but the ideas within the paragraphs are disjointed and difficult to follow. For instance, the transition between the party details and your relationship with Chris is abrupt. There is a lack of cohesive devices to link sentences, making the text feel like a series of disconnected statements. The referencing is also unclear, as it is often difficult to determine who 'you' refers to in different sentences. Using linking words like 'however', 'consequently', or 'furthermore' more effectively would help improve the logical progression of your ideas.

Lexical Resource — Band 5.0

The vocabulary is quite limited and repetitive. There are several errors in word choice and collocation, such as 'decorate this BIRTHDAY party' and '3hr drive way'. The phrasing is often unnatural, which occasionally makes it difficult for the reader to grasp your intended meaning. To reach a higher band, you should focus on using more precise vocabulary related to social arrangements and expressing regrets. For example, instead of saying 'we are manage', you could use 'we can make arrangements' or 'we can coordinate our schedules'.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 5.0

There are frequent grammatical errors throughout the letter, including issues with subject-verb agreement ('we both are help'), tense usage, and sentence structure. Many sentences are fragmented or lack proper punctuation, such as 'i know is it your special day'. The misuse of pronouns and capitalization also detracts from the clarity of the writing. While you attempt some complex ideas, the lack of control over basic grammar significantly impacts the readability of the text. Focusing on sentence construction and proofreading for basic errors would be a beneficial next step.

See this exact question answered at other band scores — the same prompt compared across bands.

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