Band 7.5 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 7.5 · Cambridge IELTS 17 · 2026-08-19

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 very much for inviting me to Chris’s surprise birthday party. I am delighted to hear that you are organising such a special celebration.

I am sure that Chris will enjoy the surprise birthday party because he loves spending time with friends and family. He is a very sociable person and always enjoys social gatherings. Moreover, he has mentioned a lot of times that he likes surprises and social occasions. I believe this party will make his time more memorable.

Unfortunately, I won’t be able to attend this birthday party as I have some work commitments on the same day which I can't postpone. I have been scheduled to hear those meetings for our new project coming soon.I hope you will understand this matter.

However, I would still like to celebrate Chris's birthday. I am planning to come next weekend and meet him to enjoy his special day and spend quality time together. I have already bought a special gift for him which makes him happy.

Please pass on my best wishes to Chris, and i hope everyone has a wonderful time at the party.

Warm Regards,

John.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 8.0

You have successfully addressed all three bullet points in the prompt. You clearly explained why Chris would enjoy the surprise, provided a logical reason for your absence, and proposed a concrete plan for a future meeting. The tone is appropriate for a letter to a friend's parents, maintaining a polite and appreciative register throughout. The ideas are well-developed and relevant to the task requirements, ensuring the reader understands the situation clearly. You have fully satisfied the requirements of the task.

Coherence and Cohesion — Band 8.0

The letter is logically organized with clear paragraphing. Each paragraph focuses on a specific aspect of the task, which helps the reader follow your train of thought easily. You use cohesive devices such as 'Moreover', 'Unfortunately', and 'However' effectively to transition between ideas. The progression of information is smooth, and the referencing is clear throughout the text. The structure is coherent and supports the overall purpose of the letter well.

Lexical Resource — Band 7.0

You demonstrate a good range of vocabulary that is appropriate for the context of a personal letter. Phrases like 'work commitments', 'social gatherings', and 'quality time' are used accurately. While the vocabulary is functional and clear, it could be slightly more varied to reach a higher band. There are no significant errors in word choice or spelling that impede communication. The language used is natural and fits the tone of the letter perfectly.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 7.5

Your grammar is generally strong, with a good mix of simple and complex sentence structures. Most sentences are error-free, and your control over verb tenses is consistent. There is a minor error in the final paragraph ('i hope' should be capitalized as 'I hope'), and the phrasing 'hear those meetings' is slightly unnatural; 'attend those meetings' would be more precise. However, these are minor slips that do not affect the clarity of your message. You show good control over punctuation and sentence construction.

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

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