Band 7.0 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer
Overall Band Score: 7.0 · Cambridge IELTS 17 · 2026-08-25
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
Hope you are enjoying the weather and having a great time. I had a telephonic conversation with Chris, the last week, in which he mentioned that he is going to visit home and spend his birthday week with you both. He seemed to be excited to meet you two more than his birthday. He will certainly be astonished on this wonderful surprise because he will be able to see his friends and meet parents at the same time after so long, especially on his birthday.
When I received your letter having invitation for his "Surprise Birthday Party", I was overwhelmed with happiness and excitement, since I started dreaming of the wonderful experince during this trip. Unfortunately, I received my date sheet schedule of my final exams starting in the same week of Chris's birthday. Usually these start one month after the date it's scheduled now, however, due to some competetive exams falling during earlier scheduled dates, University decided to prepone the said examination. This ruined my entire plan and with heartfelt sadness, I am hereby informing you that I will not be able to attend the birthday party.
Never mind, I still have plans to visit Australia after my exams during my vacations and Chris is aware of this plan already. We have planned to visit a few destinations together during those days and I assure you to pay visit when I travel to the country. Meanwhile, you think I can be of any help arranging this birthday bash, please advise, I would be glad to pick it up for you. Also, anything that you like me to bring for you from India, please let me know. Hope to meet you soon.
Regards
Harleen
AI examiner evaluation
| Criterion | Band |
|---|---|
| Task Achievement / Task Response | 7.5 |
| Coherence and Cohesion | 7.5 |
| Lexical Resource | 6.5 |
| Grammatical Range and Accuracy | 6.5 |
| Overall | 7.0 |
Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 7.5
You have fully addressed all three bullet points in the prompt. You clearly explained why Chris would enjoy the party, provided a logical reason for your absence due to exam scheduling, and proposed a concrete plan to meet him later. The tone is appropriate for a letter to a friend's parents, maintaining a polite and warm register throughout. The ideas are well-developed and the purpose of the letter is clear from the beginning. You have successfully met all the requirements of the task.
Coherence and Cohesion — Band 7.5
The letter is logically organized with a clear progression of ideas. Each paragraph focuses on a specific aspect of the prompt, which helps the reader follow your message easily. You use a variety of cohesive devices such as 'since', 'however', 'meanwhile', and 'also' to link your sentences and ideas effectively. The paragraphing is appropriate and contributes to the overall clarity of the letter. The flow is natural and the transition between the apology for not attending and the alternative plan is handled smoothly.
Lexical Resource — Band 6.5
You demonstrate a good range of vocabulary, using phrases like 'overwhelmed with happiness', 'heartfelt sadness', and 'birthday bash' appropriately. There are some minor issues with word choice and collocation, such as 'telephonic conversation' (which is slightly unnatural; 'phone call' is better) and 'pay visit' (should be 'pay a visit'). However, these do not impede communication. You show an ability to use less common vocabulary, which adds to the quality of your writing.
Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 6.5
You use a mix of simple and complex sentence structures effectively. While there are some grammatical slips, such as 'the last week' (should be 'last week') and 'you think I can be of any help' (should be 'if you think'), the majority of your sentences are error-free. Your control over punctuation and verb tenses is generally good, and your meaning is always clear. The errors present are non-systematic and do not interfere with the reader's understanding of your message.
See this exact question answered at other band scores — the same prompt compared across bands.
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