Band 7.0 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 7.0 · 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 7.0)

Dear Mr and Mrs Collins,

I hope you are in great health. I got really happy and excited when I received your invitation for Chris's surprise birthday party. Unfortunately, I have a important test on the same day, due to which I wouldn't be able to come.

I am aware that Chris is really excited for his birthday as he is turning 18 this year. I remember how he used to always talk about being an adult and also legally allowed to drink. I really wanted to be present with him on his special day. I feel unlucky for not been able to come and attend this surprise birthday party, as my professor in college has changed the exam schedule and move the exam day up and coincidently it falls on the same day as his birthday. I did talk to my professor to see if I am able to give my exam on another but he denied it.

I was think to surprise him on the weekend if he is free than we can go and watch a movie together or play some games at the arena and have a nice dinner later that night. I hope you and chris understand my situation of not being able to attend his birthday party. I also hope to hear from you soon about the weekend plan.

Yours faithfully,

John

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 party, 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, and the purpose of the letter is clear from the beginning. The ideas are well-developed and relevant to the context of an 18th birthday celebration. To reach a higher band, ensure that the transition between the explanation of the exam and the apology is slightly more fluid, but overall, the task requirements are fully met.

Coherence and Cohesion — Band 7.0

The letter is logically organized into distinct paragraphs, each serving a clear purpose. You use some cohesive devices, such as 'Unfortunately' and 'I am aware that', to guide the reader. However, the flow between sentences could be improved by using a wider variety of linking words. For example, the transition between the exam situation and the plan to meet on the weekend is a bit abrupt. Additionally, some referencing is slightly repetitive. Improving the use of cohesive devices to connect your ideas more smoothly would elevate the coherence of your writing.

Lexical Resource — Band 6.0

You demonstrate an adequate range of vocabulary for this task, using phrases like 'special day' and 'situation'. However, there are some minor inaccuracies in word choice and collocation, such as 'I got really happy' (better: 'I was delighted') and 'give my exam' (better: 'take my exam'). While these errors do not impede communication, they limit the sophistication of your expression. To improve, try to incorporate more precise adjectives and idiomatic expressions that sound natural in a semi-formal letter to parents.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 6.0

You use a mix of simple and complex sentence structures, which is good. However, there are several grammatical errors that occur throughout the text, such as 'I wouldn't be able to come' (should be 'won't'), 'not been able to come' (should be 'not being able'), and 'I was think to surprise' (should be 'I was thinking of surprising'). Additionally, there are minor punctuation and tense consistency issues. While these errors rarely impede the reader's understanding, they are frequent enough to prevent a higher score. Focusing on verb forms and tense consistency will help improve your accuracy.

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

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