Band 7.0 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer
Overall Band Score: 7.0 · Cambridge IELTS 17 · 2026-09-27
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 7.0)
Dear Mr. and Mrs. Collins,
I hope both of you are doing awesome! Lately, I've received some exciting news about Chris's surprise b'day party. I'm amazed to be a part of such a wonderful celebration. It's been a long time since we last met.
I had a talk with Chris last weekend; he told me that he was going on a business trip for three weeks. He is always swamped with work-related meetings; he hardly gets a moment to spend with you.
I would not be able to attend the celebration, as next month I have two important exams for which I've been working hard for a couple of months. On the other hand, I wouldn't like to miss this opportunity; otherwise, I'll have to wait till next year.
I'm planning to celebrate Christmas in Australia this year. I know everyone has holidays then. So I'll see you guys & Chris in the next two months. Till then, enjoy yourself & take care.
Kind regards,
Sam.
AI examiner evaluation
| Criterion | Band |
|---|---|
| Task Achievement / Task Response | 7.0 |
| Coherence and Cohesion | 7.0 |
| Lexical Resource | 6.5 |
| Grammatical Range and Accuracy | 7.0 |
| Overall | 7.0 |
Task Achievement / Task Response: Band 7.0
The response successfully addresses all three bullet points required by the prompt. You state why Chris will enjoy the party by highlighting how hard he works and how much he needs a break from his business trips. You clearly explain why you cannot attend due to upcoming exams, and you provide a specific alternative plan to see everyone around Christmas. The tone is appropriately friendly and polite for a letter to family friends. All requirements of the task are adequately covered, and the ideas are fully developed and relevant. Therefore, this fulfills the criteria for a solid performance.
Coherence and Cohesion: Band 7.0
The letter is logically organised into distinct paragraphs, each serving a clear purpose. There is a logical progression from greeting the parents, explaining the situation regarding Chris's trip, giving your reasons for absence, and finally proposing a future visit during Christmas. Cohesive devices are used reasonably well, such as 'On the other hand' and 'So'. Paragraphing is used appropriately to separate different points, and referencing between sentences is generally clear. However, some transitions could be smoother to elevate the flow further.
Lexical Resource: Band 6.5
You demonstrate a sufficient range of vocabulary with some less common items and idiomatic phrases, such as 'swamped with work-related meetings' and 'miss this opportunity'. Word choice is generally appropriate for a semi-formal letter, though there are a few informal contractions or colloquialisms like 'awesome' and 'b'day' that sit slightly outside standard formal or neutral letter-writing conventions, even though the tone is friendly. Overall, the vocabulary is adequate to convey your message clearly without any impedance to understanding.
Grammatical Range and Accuracy: Band 7.0
You make good use of a mix of simple and complex sentence structures, such as conditional ideas ('otherwise, I'll have to wait') and relative clauses ('for which I've been working hard'). There are frequent error-free sentences, and grammar control is generally sound. However, minor punctuation and semicolon usage issues appear, such as in the sentence 'He is always swamped with work-related meetings; he hardly gets a moment...', where a conjunction or different punctuation might flow better. These minor slips do not impede communication.
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