Band 5.5 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer
Overall Band Score: 5.5 · Cambridge IELTS 17 · 2026-08-31
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 Jay, hope you are doing well and waiting for my friend birthday. however, sorry to inform you that i am not abel to attent the suprice day as i am stuck in some important stuff.
To be honest, iam very exicted to see the suprise birthday party even when you give me invitation i am happy and on same hand feel bad for my self that iam not abel to travell as i have my quiz.
I have requested to my proffecer thatif it possibel than i can give the quiz early or later in january but they decline my request by saying that its not possibel to do that so. if it possibel than can you please arrange face time for meso i can enjoy and chris mark my presence virtually. so uncel iam really very soory iam not abel to come for the suprice party and i hope you will understand my situation.
your faithfull,
Maharshi Patel.
AI examiner evaluation
| Criterion | Band |
|---|---|
| Task Achievement / Task Response | 6.0 |
| Coherence and Cohesion | 5.5 |
| Lexical Resource | 5.0 |
| Grammatical Range and Accuracy | 5.0 |
| Overall | 5.5 |
Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 6.0
The letter addresses all three bullet points: explaining why Chris will enjoy the party, stating the reason for absence, and proposing an alternative meeting. However, the development is somewhat limited. The explanation for why Chris would enjoy the party is quite brief, and the tone is inconsistent with the formal opening provided. While the task requirements are met, the ideas could be expanded with more natural phrasing to better suit the context of writing to a friend's parents.
Coherence and Cohesion — Band 5.5
The letter is organized into paragraphs, but the flow between ideas is often disjointed. The use of cohesive devices is minimal and sometimes inaccurate, such as the abrupt transition 'however' at the start of the first paragraph. The referencing is occasionally unclear, and the lack of proper punctuation makes it difficult to follow the logical progression of the narrative. Improving the use of linking words like 'furthermore', 'consequently', or 'although' would significantly enhance the readability of the response.
Lexical Resource — Band 5.0
The vocabulary is basic and repetitive, with several spelling errors (e.g., 'abel' for able, 'attent' for attend, 'suprice' for surprise, 'proffecer' for professor). The range of vocabulary is limited, relying on simple, everyday words. There is little evidence of less common lexical items or idiomatic expressions. To improve, you should focus on accurate spelling and expanding your range of descriptive adjectives and verbs to convey your message more precisely.
Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 5.0
There are frequent grammatical errors throughout the text, including issues with subject-verb agreement, sentence structure, and punctuation. Many sentences are run-on or lack necessary articles and prepositions. For example, 'if it possibel than can you please' is grammatically incorrect. While the meaning is generally understandable, the high frequency of errors in basic structures impacts the overall quality. You should focus on mastering simple sentence construction before attempting more complex structures.
See this exact question answered at other band scores — the same prompt compared across bands.
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