Band 7.5 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 7.5 · 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 7.5)

Dear Mr and Mrs Collins,

Thank you for inviting me to Chris's surprise birthday party. I know he always likes to spend quality time with his loved ones and he would be delighted to see everyone together, including his friends, to celebrate his birthday. This surprise will make his special moments, well, more special.

I would love to be a part of this celebration, however I have work commitments that day that I need to attend. I apologise; I would miss the chance to join in, especially as I know how much effort you have put into it.

However, I would love to see Chris at a different time as I am planning to see him next month. I would take him to dinner and give him his birthday present.

I hope you understand and enjoy the special ceremony. Please give my best wishes to my dear friend.

See you soon!

Yours lovingly,

Navjot

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 8.0

You have successfully addressed all three bullet points required by the prompt. You clearly explained why Chris would enjoy the surprise, provided a valid reason for your absence, and proposed a concrete plan to meet him later. The tone is appropriate for a letter to a friend's parents, maintaining a polite and appreciative register throughout. The ideas are relevant and well-developed, ensuring the reader understands your situation and your intentions. No parts of the task were omitted, and the purpose of the letter is clear from the beginning. This is a solid response that fully meets the requirements of the task.

Coherence and Cohesion — Band 8.0

The letter is logically organized with a clear progression of ideas. Each paragraph focuses on a specific requirement of the task, which makes the information easy to follow. You have used appropriate cohesive devices such as 'however', 'as', and 'including' to link your thoughts effectively. The paragraphing is logical and helps the reader navigate the letter. The transition between the apology for not attending and the alternative plan to meet is smooth. Overall, the flow of the letter is natural and coherent, meeting the criteria for a high band score.

Lexical Resource — Band 7.0

You demonstrate a good range of vocabulary that is appropriate for the context of a personal letter. Phrases like 'quality time', 'delighted to see everyone together', and 'work commitments' are used accurately and naturally. While the vocabulary is functional and clear, it is generally standard. To reach a higher band, you could incorporate slightly more sophisticated collocations or idiomatic expressions. However, there are no errors in word choice or spelling that impede communication, and the language used is consistently appropriate for the intended audience.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 7.5

Your grammar is generally accurate, and you have used a mix of simple and complex sentence structures effectively. For example, the use of conditional structures and subordinate clauses shows good control. There are no significant grammatical errors that cause confusion. Punctuation is used correctly throughout the letter. The majority of your sentences are error-free, and the few minor slips do not detract from the clarity of your message. You have maintained a consistent and correct tense usage, which is essential for this type of correspondence.

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

Browse more IELTS Writing model answers or get your own writing scored by the same AI examiner.