Band 6.5 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer
Overall Band Score: 6.5 · Cambridge IELTS 17 · 2026-09-08
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 6.5)
Dear Mr. and Mrs. Collins,
I hope you are doing well. Today, I am writing to you to notify that unfortunately I would not be able to attend the birthday party of my dearest friend Chris. The reason is that as you know I live in Canada so , I applied for my Australian visa to attend the party but for some reason it got refused. I know you will not like to hear this but this is the truth and I am extremely sorry about this. I really wanted to come see Chris and both of you but I think not this time.
I definitely believe that Chris will enjoy this surprise party so much. As you told me before the decorations you planned and the gift you bought for her , she will be so happy. Do not forget to send pictures of her to me. I also bought a gift for her which will be delivering by Dhl soon.
However, I will try again for the visa and see if it gets approves so I will see you guys in next year probably. If you get a chance to come to Canada before that please let me know I will be always be there to host you. Happy birthday to Chris . May God bless her.
Love
Aman
AI examiner evaluation
| Criterion | Band |
|---|---|
| Task Achievement / Task Response | 7.0 |
| Coherence and Cohesion | 6.5 |
| Lexical Resource | 6.0 |
| Grammatical Range and Accuracy | 6.0 |
| Overall | 6.5 |
Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 7.0
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 (visa refusal), and suggested a future plan to meet. The tone is appropriate for a letter to a friend's parents, maintaining a polite and warm register throughout. The ideas are relevant and well-developed, ensuring the reader understands your situation and your desire to maintain the friendship. To reach a higher band, ensure that the transition between the disappointment of not attending and the excitement for the party is slightly more fluid.
Coherence and Cohesion — Band 6.5
The letter is logically organized into clear paragraphs, each serving a specific purpose. You use some cohesive devices such as 'However' and 'I also', which help the flow of ideas. However, some transitions feel a bit mechanical or abrupt, such as the jump between the visa issue and the party details. Additionally, the use of punctuation, particularly the spacing around commas (e.g., 'Canada so , I applied'), occasionally disrupts the flow. Improving the variety of linking words and ensuring consistent paragraph structure would enhance the overall coherence.
Lexical Resource — Band 6.0
You demonstrate an adequate range of vocabulary for the task. Phrases like 'notify that unfortunately' and 'extremely sorry' are appropriate for the context. There are some minor errors in word choice and collocation, such as 'which will be delivering by Dhl' (should be 'delivered') and 'see if it gets approves' (should be 'approved'). While these errors do not impede communication, they indicate a need for more precision in verb forms and passive constructions. Expanding your vocabulary to include more varied expressions for expressing regret or future plans would be beneficial.
Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 6.0
You use a mix of simple and complex sentence structures. While you successfully convey your message, there are several grammatical slips, such as 'I would not be able to attend' (should be 'will not be able' given the future context), 'not this time' (fragmented), and 'see you guys in next year' (unnecessary 'in'). Punctuation is also inconsistent, particularly with spacing around commas and the capitalization of 'Dhl'. To improve, focus on subject-verb agreement and ensuring that complex sentences are constructed with greater accuracy.
See this exact question answered at other band scores — the same prompt compared across bands.
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