Band 6.0 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer
Overall Band Score: 6.0 · Cambridge IELTS 17 · 2026-09-11
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 Gill,
I hope you are doing well. I am writing to ask thanks to you for inviting me on your son birthday party.
I am Kiran Kaur. Me and your son studies at the same college. Chris will be happy , if he will knows that you are going to arrange party for him. Because, everytime he told me that he love surprises. You already going to celebrate it on his favourite place , which is near the river.
You told me that the party would be on 24 January . But unfortunately, On that day is my daughter's birthday. So, we will busy with her. But, I will send an anniversary gift for him. I want to come,but I will be unable to attend his party.
I am going to purchase my new house. So, I will organise a welcome party. I would like to invite you and all your family members. I will organise the dinner and some Indian music. I hope Chris and you will enjoy it. I apologise for not attending Chris's birthday party. I will meet you as soon as possible.
Your Sincerely,
Kiran Kaur.
AI examiner evaluation
| Criterion | Band |
|---|---|
| Task Achievement / Task Response | 6.0 |
| Coherence and Cohesion | 6.0 |
| Lexical Resource | 5.5 |
| Grammatical Range and Accuracy | 5.5 |
| Overall | 6.0 |
Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 6.0
You have addressed all three bullet points required by the task. You explained why Chris would enjoy the party, provided a reason for your absence, and proposed an alternative plan to meet. However, the development of these ideas is somewhat basic. For example, the explanation regarding your daughter's birthday is a bit abrupt. To reach a higher band, try to expand on your ideas with more natural, polite phrasing. Additionally, ensure you address the correct recipients; you began the letter to 'Mr and Mrs Collins' as instructed, but then addressed them as 'Mr and Mrs Gill' in the body, which is a minor inconsistency.
Coherence and Cohesion — Band 6.0
The letter is organized into clear paragraphs, which helps the reader follow your ideas. You use some cohesive devices like 'but', 'because', and 'however', though some transitions feel a bit mechanical or repetitive. The logical progression is generally clear, but the flow between sentences could be improved by using a wider variety of linking words. For instance, the transition between explaining your absence and proposing a new meeting could be smoother. Overall, the structure is sufficient for the task, but more sophisticated cohesive devices would enhance the readability.
Lexical Resource — Band 5.5
You use a sufficient range of vocabulary to convey your message clearly. There are some instances of slightly unnatural word choices, such as 'ask thanks to you' instead of 'thank you for' and 'he will knows' instead of 'he knows'. You also use some basic vocabulary, such as 'happy' and 'party'. To improve, try to incorporate more precise adjectives and collocations. For example, instead of 'happy', you could use 'thrilled' or 'delighted'. While your vocabulary is adequate for the task, it lacks the flexibility and precision required for a higher band score.
Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 5.5
You demonstrate a mix of simple and complex sentence structures, but there are frequent grammatical errors throughout the text. Examples include 'Me and your son studies' (should be 'Your son and I study'), 'everytime he told me' (should be 'he always tells me'), and 'we will busy' (should be 'we will be busy'). These errors are noticeable and occasionally distract the reader, although they do not prevent the message from being understood. To improve, focus on subject-verb agreement and the correct use of auxiliary verbs. Increasing your control over these basic structures will significantly improve your score.
See this exact question answered at other band scores — the same prompt compared across bands.
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