Band 5.0 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 5.0 · Cambridge IELTS 17 · 2026-09-01

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 5.0)

Dear Mr and Mrs Collins,

I am very happy to write letter to you sir. I just got mail of chris's birthday party will be organize next week but I can't reach there for some reasons.

Last year I was remembering all the bookings and arrangements is done by me but this year I can't present there because of my vise is will be expired in few days and I want to exit Australia then also I faced some visa extended problem so I can't be there this year

I am good friend of chris and I know his interests and I have very very good suggestions for organize party chris's favorite color green and them of party should be green. His favorite cosine is Indian must have it and he will enjoy the party a lot after that he love rock and pop music so dj should play only his favorite music

Your lovingly,

puneet

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 5.0

You have addressed all three bullet points required by the task: explaining why Chris will enjoy the party, stating why you cannot attend, and suggesting a plan to meet later. However, the development of these ideas is quite limited. For instance, the explanation regarding your visa issues is difficult to follow due to grammatical errors, and the plan to meet Chris at a different time is entirely missing from your letter. To improve, ensure you provide a clear, actionable suggestion for a future meeting, such as proposing a specific date or activity, and ensure your reasons are clearly articulated.

Coherence and Cohesion — Band 5.0

The letter is divided into paragraphs, which is a positive step. However, the logical flow is frequently interrupted by grammatical inaccuracies and a lack of cohesive devices. There is little use of linking words to connect ideas within or between sentences, making the text feel disjointed. For example, the transition between discussing the party arrangements and your visa issues is abrupt. To improve, use transition words like 'however', 'consequently', or 'furthermore' to guide the reader through your ideas and ensure each paragraph has a clear, singular focus.

Lexical Resource — Band 5.0

Your vocabulary is quite basic and repetitive, which limits your ability to express ideas precisely. You rely on simple phrases like 'very very good' and 'enjoy the party a lot'. There are also errors in word choice, such as 'cosine' instead of 'cuisine' and 'them' instead of 'theme'. To reach a higher band, try to incorporate more specific vocabulary related to social events and travel, and avoid repeating simple intensifiers. Expanding your range of adjectives and nouns will help you convey your message more effectively and naturally.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 4.5

There are frequent grammatical errors throughout the letter that often impede communication. Issues include incorrect verb tenses (e.g., 'is done by me'), missing articles, and awkward sentence structures (e.g., 'I just got mail of chris's birthday party will be organize'). The sentence construction is often fragmented, making it difficult to determine the intended meaning. To improve, focus on basic sentence structure, subject-verb agreement, and the correct use of articles. Proofreading for common errors like tense consistency will significantly improve the clarity of your writing.

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

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