Band 6.0 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer
Overall Band Score: 6.0 · Cambridge IELTS 17 · 2026-09-05
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,
How are things going? I hope everything is going well with you. I was so delighted to hear that you are planning a birthday party for Chris next month. I believe he would be thrilled by this surprise, as he always been a family guy and enjoyed the gathering of his close relative and friends.
Unfortunately, I won't be able to attend the party, because, I have a busy work schedule, and plenty of important meeting in the company. Also, next month I would be in Toronto for the opening of our new company there.
Therefore, I made other arrangement for us to meet at a different time. I booked a flight to Paris for me and Chris in the 25th of April, because it's his dream to visit it, and I assume he would be excited by his gift for this birthday!.
Thank you for the invitation, I hope I can hear from you soon,
Best wishes,
Amanda
AI examiner evaluation
| Criterion | Band |
|---|---|
| Task Achievement / Task Response | 6.5 |
| Coherence and Cohesion | 6.5 |
| Lexical Resource | 6.0 |
| Grammatical Range and Accuracy | 5.5 |
| Overall | 6.0 |
Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 6.5
You have successfully addressed all three bullet points in the prompt. You clearly explained why Chris would enjoy the party, provided a valid 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 friendly register throughout. The ideas are relevant and well-developed, ensuring the reader understands the situation clearly. To reach a higher band, ensure that all minor grammatical slips do not distract from the clarity of your message, though your response is fully functional and meets the requirements of the task effectively.
Coherence and Cohesion — Band 6.5
The letter is logically organized, with each paragraph focusing on a specific requirement of the task. You use basic cohesive devices such as 'Unfortunately', 'Also', and 'Therefore' to link your ideas, which helps the reader follow your train of thought. The paragraphing is appropriate for a formal letter. To improve, you could experiment with a wider variety of linking words or transition phrases to make the flow feel more natural and less mechanical. Overall, the information is presented in a clear, easy-to-follow sequence that maintains a consistent progression from start to finish.
Lexical Resource — Band 6.0
You demonstrate an adequate range of vocabulary for this task, using phrases like 'delighted to hear', 'thrilled by this surprise', and 'busy work schedule'. While the vocabulary is functional and appropriate for the context, it is somewhat standard. To achieve a higher band, try to incorporate more precise or sophisticated collocations. For example, instead of 'made other arrangement', you could use 'made alternative arrangements'. There are no significant errors in word choice that impede communication, and your spelling is accurate throughout the letter.
Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 5.5
You use a mix of simple and complex sentence structures, which is good. However, there are some noticeable grammatical errors, such as 'he always been' (should be 'he has always been'), 'plenty of important meeting' (should be 'meetings'), and 'in the 25th of April' (should be 'on the 25th'). These errors do not prevent the reader from understanding your meaning, but they do indicate a need for more careful proofreading. To improve, focus on subject-verb agreement and the correct use of prepositions, as these are frequent areas where minor slips occur.
See this exact question answered at other band scores — the same prompt compared across bands.
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