Band 7.5 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 7.5 · Cambridge IELTS 17 · 2026-08-30

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,

I hope you are doing well. I am happy to hear that you are planning to organise surprise birthday party for Chris and invite me for it.

I remember one incident of our college, when I organized surprise birthday party for Chris and he was impressed by the decorations, warm welcome and birthday gifts. Therefore, I am sure he will definitely enjoy surprise party.

Unfortunately I won't able to attend the party due to my professional responsibilities, as I have to go to London for business meeting purpose for a 5 days and I cannot send another person at my place. Therefore, I am sorry but I am unable to be there with you for Chris surprise birthday party.

I will plan a 15 days holiday with Chris in Australia next month and we will spend time together by visiting tourist attractions. Additionally, we will dining out in our favourite restaurant and create some beautiful memories for a life long.

Once again, thank you for your invitation, I hope you will send my warm wishes to Chris on his special day.

Thank you for your time and consideration.

Yours faithfully,

Twinkle

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 8.0

The response successfully addresses all three bullet points of the task. You clearly explain why Chris will enjoy the party by referencing a past positive experience, provide a valid reason for your absence due to professional commitments, and outline a concrete plan to meet him later. The tone is appropriate for a letter to a friend's parents, maintaining a polite and appreciative register throughout. The ideas are well-developed and relevant, ensuring the reader understands the situation clearly. You have fully met 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 requirement of the prompt, which helps the reader follow your narrative easily. You use cohesive devices such as 'Therefore', 'Unfortunately', and 'Additionally' to link your sentences and ideas effectively. The paragraphing is appropriate for a formal letter, and the opening and closing salutations are correct. The flow of information is smooth, and the relationship between your inability to attend and your future plans is clearly established.

Lexical Resource — Band 7.0

You demonstrate a sufficient range of vocabulary to convey your message clearly. Phrases like 'professional responsibilities', 'tourist attractions', and 'create some beautiful memories' are well-chosen and appropriate for the context. While the vocabulary is functional and accurate, it is generally standard. To reach a higher band, you could incorporate more sophisticated collocations or idiomatic expressions. There are no significant errors in word choice that impede communication, and your spelling is accurate throughout the response.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 6.5

You use a mix of simple and complex sentence structures effectively. However, there are some minor grammatical slips, such as 'I won't able to' (should be 'I won't be able to'), 'for a 5 days' (should be 'for 5 days'), and 'we will dining out' (should be 'we will dine out'). Despite these occasional errors, your meaning is always clear, and the majority of your sentences are error-free. The punctuation is generally correct, and the overall control of grammar is strong enough to ensure the letter is professional and easy to read.

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

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