Band 6.0 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 6.0 · Cambridge IELTS 17 · 2026-09-02

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 6.0)

Dear Mr and Mrs Collins,

I hope you are doing well upon receiving my letter.

I am delighted with the invitation you send to me for the incoming surprise birthday of Chris this Saturday, and without doubt he will like and will be happy with your surprise. In addition, I believe that you gave your full efforts preparing for his important day. However I feel sorry because I cannot attend on his special day due to some conflicts in my schedule. I need to cover the shift of my colleague because she is sick and no one will cover her duty.

If you will be free at your home this Sunday, I will come for visit, drop my gift to Chris and bring some sweets like cake to eat with you.

I hope you understand the reason and I really appreciate your effort for sending the invitation.

Yours faithfully,

Jessica

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 6.5

You have successfully addressed all three bullet points in the prompt. You explained why Chris would enjoy the party, provided a clear reason for your absence, and proposed a specific alternative plan to meet him. The tone is appropriate for a letter to a friend's parents, maintaining a polite and appreciative register throughout. The ideas are relevant and well-developed, ensuring the reader understands your situation and your desire to connect with Chris at a later time. The response is fully functional and meets the requirements of the task effectively.

Coherence and Cohesion — Band 6.0

The letter is logically organized, with a clear progression from the opening to the explanation of absence and the proposed solution. You use basic cohesive devices such as 'In addition', 'However', and 'If' to link your ideas. While the paragraphing is somewhat limited, the flow of information is clear and easy to follow. To reach a higher band, you could use a wider variety of linking words and ensure that the transition between your apology and your alternative plan feels more natural and less abrupt.

Lexical Resource — Band 5.5

Your vocabulary is generally appropriate for the task, allowing you to convey your message clearly. Phrases like 'delighted with the invitation' and 'conflicts in my schedule' are effective. However, there are some minor inaccuracies in collocation and word choice, such as 'drop my gift' (better as 'drop off my gift') and 'do not need to write any addresses' (which you followed). To improve, try to incorporate more precise vocabulary to describe your intentions and feelings, moving beyond basic descriptive terms to more sophisticated alternatives.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 5.5

You demonstrate a mix of simple and complex sentence structures. While the meaning is always clear, there are several grammatical slips, such as 'invitation you send to me' (should be 'sent'), 'he will like and will be happy' (slightly repetitive), and 'come for visit' (should be 'come for a visit'). Punctuation is generally functional, though some sentences would benefit from better comma placement to improve readability. The errors present do not impede communication, but more consistent control over verb tenses and articles would enhance the overall quality of your writing.

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

Browse more IELTS Writing model answers or get your own writing scored by the same AI examiner.