Band 7.5 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 7.5 · Cambridge IELTS 17 · 2026-08-29

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 7.5)

Dear Mr. and Mrs. Collins,

How've you been? It's been so long since I met you last. I really appreciate that you called me for Chris's birthday party.

Knowing Chris since childhood, I know, he'll be extremely delighted by your surprise party especially for his 25th birthday. Although he's not a party freak, this surprise will definitely make his day special. Additionally, he was planning for a reunion with his school friends, thus, by your party, it'll be done as well.

Unfortunately, I'll not be able to make it to the celebration owing to my prior work commitment. My company just received an opportunity to work with Spanish investors and due to this, my boss needs all the experienced employees on the floor to cope with the work pressure. Therefore, I really apologize for ditching Chris's birthday celebration.

Nonetheless, I've already talked to Chris about this situation and asked for his time to meet him anytime in November. Even though he is a little angry with me, I believe, he'll reply me positively soon. If November will not fit in his schedule, I am organizing a Christmas Party this year at my place for everyone. Please pay your visit to my home in December for the celebration.

Hope to see you two soon!

Love,

Komal

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 8.0

You have successfully addressed all three bullet points in the prompt. You clearly explained why Chris would enjoy the party, provided a plausible reason for your absence, and offered a concrete alternative plan to meet him. The tone is appropriate for a letter to a friend's parents, maintaining a balance between warmth and formality. The ideas are well-developed and the purpose of the letter is clear from the beginning. You have fully satisfied the requirements of the task.

Coherence and Cohesion — Band 8.0

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 narrative easily. You use a variety of cohesive devices such as 'Although', 'Additionally', 'Unfortunately', and 'Nonetheless' to link your sentences and paragraphs effectively. The paragraphing is appropriate, and the overall structure is coherent, making the letter easy to read and understand.

Lexical Resource — Band 7.0

You demonstrate a good range of vocabulary that is appropriate for the context. Phrases like 'prior work commitment', 'cope with the work pressure', and 'experience employees' show a solid command of language. While some word choices are standard, they are used accurately. There is a slight informality in phrases like 'party freak' and 'ditching', but these are acceptable given the friendly nature of the letter. The vocabulary is sufficient to convey your meaning precisely.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 7.0

You use a mix of simple and complex sentence structures effectively. Most of your sentences are error-free, and your control over punctuation is generally good. There are minor slips, such as 'reply me' (should be 'reply to me') and 'If November will not fit' (should be 'If November does not fit'), but these do not impede communication. The use of modal verbs and conditional structures is accurate, showing a good grasp of English grammar.

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

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