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
| Criterion | Band |
|---|---|
| Task Achievement / Task Response | 8.0 |
| Coherence and Cohesion | 8.0 |
| Lexical Resource | 7.0 |
| Grammatical Range and Accuracy | 7.5 |
| Overall | 7.5 |
Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 8.0
The response fully addresses all three bullet points required by the prompt. You clearly explain why Chris would enjoy the surprise, provide a valid reason for your absence (work commitments), and propose a concrete plan to meet him later. The tone is appropriate for a letter to a friend's parents, maintaining a polite and friendly register throughout. The ideas are well-developed and the purpose of the letter is clear from the outset. You have successfully covered all requirements of the task in a natural and coherent manner.
Coherence and Cohesion — Band 8.0
The letter is logically organized with a clear progression of ideas. Each paragraph focuses on a specific aspect of the prompt, which makes the letter easy to follow. You use appropriate cohesive devices such as 'Moreover', 'Unfortunately', and 'However' to transition between ideas effectively. The paragraphing is logical and contributes to the overall flow of the text. The referencing is clear, and the letter maintains a consistent tone from the opening salutation to the closing sign-off.
Lexical Resource — Band 7.0
You demonstrate a good range of vocabulary appropriate for a semi-formal letter. Phrases like 'work commitments', 'social gatherings', and 'pass on my best wishes' are used accurately. While the vocabulary is functional and clear, it could be further enhanced by incorporating more sophisticated collocations or less common lexical items to reach the highest band. For instance, instead of 'make his time more memorable', you could use 'ensure the occasion is truly memorable'. Overall, the lexical range is sufficient and there are no errors that impede communication.
Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 7.5
The letter displays a good mix of simple and complex sentence structures. Your control of grammar is generally strong, with accurate use of tenses and modal verbs. There is a minor awkwardness in the sentence 'I have been scheduled to hear those meetings', which would be more naturally phrased as 'I have been scheduled to attend those meetings'. However, this does not impede understanding. Punctuation is used correctly throughout, and the majority of your sentences are error-free, indicating a high level of grammatical control.
See this exact question answered at other band scores — the same prompt compared across bands.
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