Band 8.0 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 8.0 · 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 8.0)

Dear Mr and Mrs Collins,

I am glad to hear that you have arranged a surprise birthday party for Chris. I think this is a wonderful idea and a great opportunity to organize a small get-together with his close friends.

I remember Chris mentioning the work-related stress he has been experiencing since moving to a new city. He was also really excited about meeting you during his summer vacation. Knowing that you have arranged a birthday party for him will definitely lift his spirits and make his special day even more memorable.

As much as I would love to be there, unfortunately, I will not be able to attend the party due to some work commitments. However, I will make sure to send my best wishes to Chris along with his favorite cheesecake from the best bakery in town.

Also, Chris and I are planning to attend Joanna's housewarming party next month. It would be wonderful if you could join us as well.

Sending you all my love and best wishes!

Yours sincerely,

Neha

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 8.0

The response fully addresses all three bullet points required by the prompt. You clearly explain why Chris will enjoy the party by referencing his work-related stress and his desire to see his parents. You provide a valid reason for your absence (work commitments) and offer a concrete alternative plan to meet him at a housewarming party. The tone is appropriate for a letter to a friend's parents, maintaining a polite and warm register throughout. All parts of the task are well-developed and the purpose of the letter is clear from the outset.

Coherence and Cohesion — Band 8.0

The letter is logically organized with a clear progression of ideas. Each paragraph focuses on a specific aspect of the prompt, which makes the letter easy to follow. You use effective cohesive devices such as 'As much as I would love to', 'However', and 'Also' to link your thoughts smoothly. The paragraphing is appropriate for a formal letter, and the transition between the explanation of your absence and the alternative plan is natural. The overall structure is coherent and professional.

Lexical Resource — Band 7.5

You demonstrate a good range of vocabulary that is well-suited to the context of a personal letter. Phrases like 'work-related stress', 'lift his spirits', and 'memorable' are used accurately and naturally. The language is precise and conveys your message effectively without any noticeable errors in word choice or collocation. While the vocabulary is not overly complex, it is perfectly appropriate for the task and shows a solid command of English for this level.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 8.0

The grammar is highly accurate throughout the response. You use a variety of sentence structures, including complex sentences such as 'I remember Chris mentioning the work-related stress he has been experiencing since moving to a new city.' Punctuation is used correctly, and there are no errors that impede communication. The majority of your sentences are error-free, and you demonstrate good control over verb tenses and modal verbs. The writing is fluent and displays a high level of grammatical competence.

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

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