Band 6.5 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer
Overall Band Score: 6.5 · Cambridge IELTS 17 · 2026-08-16
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 6.5)
Dear Mr. and Mrs. Collins,
I am really glad for receiving the invitation of Chris's surprise birthday party, unfortunately, I'm not able to attend the celebration.
I would like to appreciate that you are going to surprise him with the party, which he definitely going to enjoy as he loves the surprise parties. I remember, when I gave him he was amazed and full of joy.
I apologize that I'm not able to come to the party, as my final exam are in the same week, which I cannot afford to miss, because these exams completes my final semester for my graduation. I believe you can understand my situation.
However, I intend to visit him after my results are available, giving me a peace of mind. I am going to surprise him with the sudden visit. I will stay for a week in which we would have fun and make memories by roaming around various places.
Yours faithfully,
Prince.
AI examiner evaluation
| Criterion | Band |
|---|---|
| Task Achievement / Task Response | 7.0 |
| Coherence and Cohesion | 6.5 |
| Lexical Resource | 6.0 |
| Grammatical Range and Accuracy | 6.0 |
| Overall | 6.5 |
Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 7.0
You have addressed all three bullet points required by the prompt. You successfully explained why Chris would enjoy the party, provided a valid reason for your absence, and outlined a clear plan to meet him later. The tone is generally appropriate for a letter to a friend's parents, although it could be slightly more polished. The ideas are relevant and developed sufficiently to meet the task requirements. To improve, ensure that your opening sentence flows more naturally; for example, instead of 'I am really glad for receiving', use 'I was delighted to receive'. Overall, the task is completed effectively.
Coherence and Cohesion — Band 6.5
The letter is logically organized into clear paragraphs, each focusing on one of the required points. You use basic cohesive devices such as 'However' and 'I apologize that' to transition between ideas. While the structure is clear, the flow between sentences could be improved by using a wider variety of linking words. For instance, the transition between the second and third paragraphs is a bit abrupt. Using more sophisticated cohesive devices would help the letter feel more fluid and natural. The paragraphing is appropriate and supports the overall progression of your message.
Lexical Resource — Band 6.0
You demonstrate an adequate range of vocabulary for this task. You use phrases like 'full of joy', 'make memories', and 'appreciate that you are going to surprise him'. However, there are some minor inaccuracies in word choice, such as 'I would like to appreciate that you are going to surprise him', where 'appreciate' is used incorrectly; 'commend' or 'think it is a wonderful idea' would be more natural. Additionally, 'roaming around' is slightly informal. Expanding your vocabulary to include more precise collocations would help elevate your score.
Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 6.0
You use a mix of simple and complex sentence structures. There are several grammatical errors, such as 'my final exam are' (subject-verb agreement), 'these exams completes' (subject-verb agreement), and 'he definitely going to enjoy' (missing auxiliary verb). While these errors are noticeable, they do not impede the reader's understanding of your message. To reach a higher band, focus on proofreading for subject-verb agreement and ensuring that auxiliary verbs are included in your verb phrases. Your punctuation is generally functional, but be careful with comma splices in your opening paragraph.
See this exact question answered at other band scores — the same prompt compared across bands.
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