Band 6.5 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer
Overall Band Score: 6.5 · 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 6.5)
Dear Mr/Mrs Smith
How are you guys doing?. I received the invitation letter for the surprise party of my friend Chris that will be happening this weekend . I must say, it is a wonderful idea and I’m glad to be a part of it.
Chris has always loved surprises and throwing him a party that he is totally unaware of will definitely impress him. Also this will be a great opportunity for him to reconnect with his friends that he hasn’t seen for long while.
Unfortunately I will not be able to make it to the party because I have a work trip that has already been scheduled same weekend and I can’t be absent from it due to the fact that I am one of the key staff in my company.
However, since I am still in constant communication with Chris, I would discuss with him the best time to visit him and also give him the present I got for him.
Thank you so much for reaching out. My regards to everyone and have a great birthday celebration.
Yours Sincerely
ABC
AI examiner evaluation
| Criterion | Band |
|---|---|
| Task Achievement / Task Response | 6.5 |
| Coherence and Cohesion | 6.5 |
| Lexical Resource | 6.0 |
| Grammatical Range and Accuracy | 6.5 |
| Overall | 6.5 |
Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 6.5
You have successfully addressed all three bullet points in the prompt. You explained why Chris would enjoy the surprise, provided a clear reason for your absence, and proposed a follow-up plan. The tone is appropriate for a letter to a friend's parents, maintaining a polite and friendly register throughout. The ideas are relevant and well-developed, ensuring the reader understands the situation clearly. To reach a higher band, ensure that the opening salutation matches the prompt exactly; you addressed them as 'Mr/Mrs Smith' while the prompt specified 'Mr and Mrs Collins'. This is a minor detail but important for task completion.
Coherence and Cohesion — Band 6.5
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 some cohesive devices such as 'Also', 'Unfortunately', and 'However' to transition between ideas. While the flow is generally smooth, the use of cohesive devices is somewhat basic. To improve, try to vary your linking words and ensure that the progression between sentences feels more natural rather than mechanical. Overall, the structure is clear and serves the purpose of the letter well.
Lexical Resource — Band 6.0
You demonstrate an adequate range of vocabulary for this task. Phrases like 'reconnect with his friends' and 'key staff' are used correctly and fit the context well. However, the vocabulary is somewhat functional and lacks a wider range of less common or more precise lexical items. There are minor issues with collocation, such as 'same weekend' which would be better phrased as 'the same weekend'. To improve, aim to incorporate more sophisticated synonyms and idiomatic expressions that sound natural in a semi-formal or friendly letter context.
Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 6.5
You use a mix of simple and complex sentence structures, which is appropriate for this task. Most of your sentences are clear and easy to understand. There are some minor grammatical errors, such as 'friends that he hasn’t seen for long while' (missing 'a') and 'I would discuss with him' (should be 'I will discuss' to match the future intent). Punctuation is generally accurate, though there is an unnecessary question mark in the first sentence: 'How are you guys doing?.'. Increasing the variety of complex structures and proofreading for small articles or tense consistency will help you achieve a higher score.
See this exact question answered at other band scores — the same prompt compared across bands.
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