Band 8.5 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer
Overall Band Score: 8.5 · Cambridge IELTS 17 · 2026-09-06
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 8.5)
Dear Mr and Mrs Collins,
Thank you very much for inviting me to Chris's surprise birthday party. I am sure he will absolutely love it because he has always enjoyed spending time with his friends and family. He will also be delighted to see so many people he cares about gathered together to celebrate his special day. I think the surprise will make the occasion even more memorable for him.
Unfortunately, I will not be able to attend the party because I have to travel to Sydney that weekend for an important work meeting. I am very disappointed that I will miss the celebration, especially because I know how much Chris will enjoy it.
However, I would love to see Chris shortly afterwards. I am planning to invite him for dinner at my place next Saturday evening. I could prepare some of his favourite food and give him his birthday present then. Please let me know if he is free that evening, and kindly keep it a secret!
I hope you all have a wonderful celebration, and I look forward to hearing how the surprise goes.
Best wishes,
[Your Name]
AI examiner evaluation
| Criterion | Band |
|---|---|
| Task Achievement / Task Response | 9.0 |
| Coherence and Cohesion | 9.0 |
| Lexical Resource | 8.0 |
| Grammatical Range and Accuracy | 8.5 |
| Overall | 8.5 |
Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 9.0
The response fully addresses all three bullet points required by the task. You clearly explain why Chris will enjoy the party, provide a logical reason for your absence, and offer a specific alternative plan to meet him. The tone is consistently appropriate for a letter to a friend's parents, maintaining a polite and warm register throughout. The ideas are well-developed and the purpose of the letter is clear from the outset. You have successfully met all the requirements of the prompt in a natural and engaging manner.
Coherence and Cohesion — Band 9.0
The letter is well-organized with a clear logical progression. Each paragraph focuses on a specific aspect of the task, which makes the information easy to follow. You use cohesive devices effectively, such as 'Unfortunately,' 'However,' and 'shortly afterwards,' to link your ideas smoothly. The transition between the apology for not attending and the proposal for a future meeting is handled naturally. Paragraphing is used appropriately to separate the different sections of the letter, ensuring the structure is coherent and professional.
Lexical Resource — Band 8.0
You demonstrate a good range of vocabulary that is well-suited to the context of a personal letter. Phrases such as 'absolutely love it,' 'gathered together,' and 'make the occasion even more memorable' are natural and precise. The language is fluent and conveys your meaning clearly without any awkward phrasing. While the vocabulary is not highly academic, it is perfectly appropriate for the task type and shows a good level of control, allowing you to express your thoughts with ease and accuracy.
Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 8.5
The response is grammatically accurate, with a variety of sentence structures used throughout. You successfully employ complex sentences, such as 'I am very disappointed that I will miss the celebration, especially because I know how much Chris will enjoy it.' Punctuation is used correctly, and there are no errors that impede communication. The majority of your sentences are error-free, and you demonstrate a high level of control over tense usage, particularly when discussing future plans and past reasons for absence.
See this exact question answered at other band scores — the same prompt compared across bands.
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