Band 5.0 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer
Overall Band Score: 5.0 · Cambridge IELTS 17 · 2026-08-09
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 Mr and Mrs Collins,
I am writing to inform you that I can not apply your invitation of Chris party. although it will be a nice surprise to my best friend.
I think Chris will enjoy so much this surprise because he likes parties so much and presents also
Actually I can not travel to Australia in this time of year because I have a final exam in my collage, I really sorry I will not be able attend his birthday part.
I planned to travel to Australia in Summer and do a lots of activities togather like camping and learning new sports and I will make it as surprise for him.
my faithfully
Manal
AI examiner evaluation
| Criterion | Band |
|---|---|
| Task Achievement / Task Response | 5.0 |
| Coherence and Cohesion | 5.0 |
| Lexical Resource | 5.0 |
| Grammatical Range and Accuracy | 5.0 |
| Overall | 5.0 |
Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 5.0
The response addresses all three bullet points: explaining why Chris will enjoy the party, why you cannot attend, and proposing an alternative meeting. However, the response is significantly under the 150-word minimum, which limits the development of these ideas. The ideas are presented in a very brief manner, lacking the necessary detail and elaboration required for a higher band score. To improve, you should expand on your reasons and provide more descriptive language regarding your future plans to meet Chris. Because the length requirement was not met, the task achievement is negatively impacted.
Coherence and Cohesion — Band 5.0
The letter is structured into short paragraphs, which is appropriate for the task. However, the use of cohesive devices is very limited and sometimes mechanical. For example, the transition 'although it will be a nice surprise' is grammatically incomplete and does not link effectively to the previous sentence. The flow between ideas is somewhat disjointed, and the lack of sufficient length makes the overall progression feel abrupt. Using a wider variety of linking words such as 'furthermore', 'consequently', or 'in addition' would help improve the logical flow of your writing.
Lexical Resource — Band 5.0
The vocabulary used is basic and repetitive, such as the repeated use of 'enjoy' and 'surprise'. There are also errors in word choice and collocation, such as 'apply your invitation' (should be 'accept your invitation') and 'in this time of year' (should be 'at this time of year'). The spelling of 'collage' (should be 'college') and 'togather' (should be 'together') also indicates a need for more careful proofreading. To achieve a higher score, you should aim to use more precise vocabulary and ensure that words are used in their correct context.
Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 5.0
The response contains a mix of simple and some attempted complex sentences, but there are frequent grammatical errors that occasionally impede clarity. Examples include 'I can not apply your invitation of Chris party' (missing possessive and incorrect verb choice) and 'I really sorry I will not be able attend' (missing verb 'am'). Punctuation is also inconsistent, particularly with capitalization and sentence boundaries. To improve, focus on basic sentence construction, ensuring that every sentence has a clear subject and verb, and practice the correct use of prepositions and verb tenses.
See this exact question answered at other band scores — the same prompt compared across bands.
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