Band 5.5 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer
Overall Band Score: 5.5 · Cambridge IELTS 17 · 2026-08-20
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 5.5)
Dear Mr and Mrs collins,
I hope this letter finds you in radiant health and best of your Spirits. I am writing this letter to share you very bad news about me that i can not be able come my friends birthday party.
Because right now i am in India here i have to my brother's wedding which is also held on the same day so i have to be here yes both are very important for but i can not miss it and even though if i am not there our all others friends are going to attend his birthday so he is not not going to miss me that much but i want you to share you one good news that i am coming to austalia after one week of Chris birthday and i known that you guys are very busy to organize his birthday party but if possible could you take something for Chris from my side give it to him on his birthday.
your truly
Jeel sevak
AI examiner evaluation
| Criterion | Band |
|---|---|
| Task Achievement / Task Response | 6.0 |
| Coherence and Cohesion | 5.5 |
| Lexical Resource | 5.5 |
| Grammatical Range and Accuracy | 5.0 |
| Overall | 5.5 |
Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 6.0
You have addressed all three bullet points required by the task: explaining why Chris will enjoy the party, stating why you cannot attend, and proposing a plan to meet later. However, the development of these ideas is somewhat limited. For instance, you mention Chris will enjoy the party but do not elaborate on why (e.g., his love for surprises or specific friends). The tone is generally appropriate for a letter to parents, though the lack of clear paragraphing makes the structure feel slightly rushed. To improve, ensure each bullet point is developed into a distinct, well-supported paragraph to better demonstrate your ability to communicate ideas clearly.
Coherence and Cohesion — Band 5.5
The letter lacks clear paragraphing, which is essential for organizing your ideas effectively. The text is presented as one large block, making it harder for the reader to follow the transition between the apology and the future plans. While you use some cohesive devices like 'because' and 'even though', the flow is often interrupted by run-on sentences and a lack of punctuation. To reach a higher band, you should use clear paragraph breaks for each main point and use a wider variety of linking words to connect your ideas more smoothly rather than relying on repetitive sentence structures.
Lexical Resource — Band 5.5
Your vocabulary is generally adequate for the task, but it lacks the precision and variety expected at higher levels. You use some nice phrases like 'radiant health', but there are several instances of awkward phrasing, such as 'share you very bad news' instead of 'share some bad news' and 'take something for Chris' instead of 'buy a gift'. There are also minor errors in capitalization, such as 'collins' and 'austalia'. To improve, focus on using more natural collocations and ensure you are using the correct terminology for social situations, such as 'celebrate' or 'attend'.
Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 5.0
There are frequent grammatical errors throughout the letter that occasionally impede the flow of communication. You struggle with verb forms, such as 'i can not be able come' (should be 'I will not be able to come') and 'i have to my brother's wedding' (missing the verb 'attend'). Additionally, the letter contains several run-on sentences where multiple ideas are joined without proper punctuation. While you attempt some complex structures, they are often inaccurate. Focusing on basic sentence construction—ensuring every sentence has a clear subject, verb, and proper punctuation—will significantly improve your score.
See this exact question answered at other band scores — the same prompt compared across bands.
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