Band 7.0 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 7.0 · Cambridge IELTS 17 · 2026-08-26

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 am writing regarding the invitation received from you recently in my mailbox, which is concerning the upcoming Chris surprise birthday party. I honestly appreciate your invite because it makes me feel very honored.

First and foremost, Chris is a friend I have known for decades and his interest in surprise events cannot be underestimated especially when he is been celebrated. He has always fantasize the beauty of surprises and the genuine love that comes with it mostly when it is been done by loved ones, so I believe that he will definitely enjoy the surprise party.

Unfortunately, I would not be able to attend the birthday party due to my schedule. My visa just got approved and the flight will be taking off to Ontario in Canada a week before the birthday because I already completed my immigration and relocation process. Although, I already planned to make it up to him before my departure by presenting you a gift which you can help me by delivering it.

However, I would like to include that aside the gift presentation, I have prepared another plan by scheduling a visit to Ontario on his behalf so we can see each other and have some outdoor relaxation experience. I think his visiting visa should be ready by 13th of October. Thank you so much and I look forward to hearing from you.

Yours Sincerely,

Abeeb Abdulraheem

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 8.0

You have addressed all three bullet points required by the task. 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. The ideas are well-developed and relevant to the context of the prompt. You maintained a consistent focus throughout the letter, ensuring the reader understands your situation and your intentions regarding the gift and the future meeting. Overall, the task requirements have been fully met.

Coherence and Cohesion — Band 7.5

The letter is logically organized, with each paragraph focusing on a specific aspect of the prompt. You use transition words such as 'First and foremost', 'Unfortunately', and 'However' to guide the reader through your ideas. Paragraphing is used effectively to separate the different points. While some of the cohesive devices are standard, they function well to maintain the flow of the letter. The progression of ideas is clear, moving from the appreciation of the invitation to the explanation of your absence and finally to the alternative plan.

Lexical Resource — Band 6.5

You demonstrate an adequate range of vocabulary for the task, such as 'honored', 'relocation process', and 'outdoor relaxation experience'. However, there are some minor inaccuracies in word choice and collocation, such as 'fantasize the beauty' (should be 'fantasized about') and 'aside the gift' (should be 'apart from' or 'besides'). These errors do not impede communication, but they prevent the vocabulary from reaching a higher band. Using more precise collocations would enhance the naturalness of your writing.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 6.0

You use a mix of simple and complex sentence structures. There are several grammatical errors, particularly with verb tenses and passive voice constructions, such as 'he is been celebrated' (should be 'he is being celebrated') and 'it is been done' (should be 'it is being done'). Additionally, 'I already planned' should be 'I have already planned' to reflect the present relevance. While these errors are noticeable, they do not cause confusion for the reader. Increasing your control over complex verb forms and prepositions would improve your accuracy.

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

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