Band 6.5 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer
Overall Band Score: 6.5 · Cambridge IELTS 17 · 2026-09-09
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 enjoying good health. I received your letter yesterday in which you have invited me to the birthday party of my closest friend.
As far as I know, he really loves surprises from an early age and he will definitely enjoy this customised party as you selected IPhone as a theme which he always admire. This is one of his most favourite gadget and he was fascinated to buy one. However, he will be pleased if you invite a magician and comedy which will add more entertainment to the whole theme as they will amuse the guest through their variety shows.
However, I would request you to accept my apology as I will not be available to attend this memorable day because of my annual examination. As they are essential to get promotion into the next grade.
You will be pleased to know that, I would visit your city in upcoming month and I will make sure to meet Chris, In fact I have a plan to stay at your place for two days to spend quality time and I would love to explore the famous places of your city. Additionally, I would prefer to taste the popular food points. Kindly inform me about your availability so that I can finalise my further plans accordingly
AI examiner evaluation
| Criterion | Band |
|---|---|
| Task Achievement / Task Response | 7.0 |
| Coherence and Cohesion | 6.5 |
| Lexical Resource | 6.5 |
| Grammatical Range and Accuracy | 6.0 |
| Overall | 6.5 |
Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 7.0
You have addressed all three bullet points of the task effectively. You explained why Chris would enjoy the surprise, provided a clear reason for your absence (annual examinations), and proposed a concrete plan to visit later. The tone is appropriate for a letter to a friend's parents. However, the development of ideas is slightly uneven; for instance, the suggestion of a magician and comedy show is a bit tangential to the prompt's focus on Chris's enjoyment of the surprise itself. Overall, the purpose of the letter is clear, and the requirements are fully met.
Coherence and Cohesion — Band 6.5
The letter is logically organized into clear paragraphs, each focusing on a specific requirement of the task. You use cohesive devices such as 'However', 'Additionally', and 'In fact' to link your ideas. While the flow is generally good, some transitions feel slightly mechanical, and the use of 'However' at the start of the third paragraph is repetitive as it was used in the second paragraph as well. The referencing is clear throughout, and the letter follows a natural progression from the opening to the closing request.
Lexical Resource — Band 6.5
You demonstrate a sufficient range of vocabulary to convey your message with precision. Phrases like 'customised party', 'memorable day', and 'quality time' are used effectively. There are some minor issues with collocation and word choice, such as 'fascinated to buy one' (should be 'keen to buy one') and 'popular food points' (should be 'popular restaurants' or 'eateries'). Despite these minor inaccuracies, the vocabulary is adequate for the task and does not impede communication. You show an attempt to use a wider range of language, which is positive.
Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 6.0
You use a mix of simple and complex sentence structures. There are several grammatical errors, such as 'he always admire' (should be 'admires'), 'as they are essential to get promotion' (should be 'as they are essential for my promotion'), and 'in upcoming month' (should be 'in the upcoming month'). Punctuation is generally functional, though there are some issues with comma usage and sentence fragments. While these errors are noticeable, they do not prevent the reader from understanding your meaning. To reach a higher band, focus on subject-verb agreement and article usage.
See this exact question answered at other band scores — the same prompt compared across bands.
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