Band 6.0 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 6.0 · Cambridge IELTS 17 · 2026-08-10

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 6.0)

Dear Mr & Mrs Adam,

I hope you are doing well. I would like to thank you for the invitation for the Chris birthday. I completely forgot about his birthday due to preparation for final year exams. He will be surely happy for this surprise birthday party.

Now a days, he is done with his exams and he is entirely free all day. He try to call me several time to visit his house, but I am busy in my exams and I couldn't make it. However, I believe he will enjoy his surprise birthday party which will be plan by you people. As you know, he always gave you surprise and if this time vice-versa happens he will surely make this as a beautiful memory.

Moreover, I mentioned earlier about my final year exams which take place next week due to which I will be unable to attend this beautiful event. In addition, I also have to look for my younger siblings as my parents are out of town to attend wedding function of my cousin.

Therefore, as my exam finished I will visit your house and planned something again. I hope you will understand my circumstances.

Thank you

Shahrukh

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 6.5

You have addressed all three bullet points required by the task. You explained why Chris would enjoy the party, provided a reason for your absence, and suggested a plan to meet him later. However, the development of these ideas is somewhat limited. For example, the explanation regarding why you cannot attend is slightly repetitive, mentioning both exams and family responsibilities. To reach a higher band, ensure that your ideas are fully extended and clearly linked to the context of the letter. The tone is generally appropriate for a letter to a friend's parents, though it could be slightly more polished in its expression.

Coherence and Cohesion — Band 6.0

The letter is organized into logical paragraphs, which helps the reader follow your points. You use some cohesive devices such as 'Moreover', 'In addition', and 'Therefore' to connect your ideas. However, some of these transitions feel a bit mechanical or slightly misused, such as 'Now a days' or 'if this time vice-versa happens'. The flow between sentences is generally clear, but the progression of ideas could be smoother. Improving the variety of linking words and ensuring they are used in the correct context would enhance the overall coherence of your writing.

Lexical Resource — Band 6.0

You have a sufficient range of vocabulary to communicate your message effectively. You use some relevant phrases like 'beautiful memory' and 'circumstances'. However, there are several instances of awkward phrasing or word choice, such as 'he is done with his exams' (informal) and 'the Chris birthday' (incorrect article usage). There are also minor errors in collocation, such as 'make this as a beautiful memory' instead of 'turn this into a beautiful memory'. Expanding your vocabulary to include more natural collocations and idiomatic expressions would help you achieve a higher score.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 5.5

You demonstrate a mix of simple and complex sentence structures. While your meaning is generally clear, there are frequent grammatical errors throughout the text. Examples include subject-verb agreement issues ('he try to call me', 'exams which take place'), tense inconsistencies ('which will be plan by you'), and article errors ('the Chris birthday'). While these errors do not prevent the reader from understanding your message, they are frequent enough to impact the overall accuracy of your writing. Focusing on proofreading for basic subject-verb agreement and tense consistency will significantly improve your score.

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

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