Band 6.5 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer
Overall Band Score: 6.5 · Cambridge IELTS 17 · 2026-09-30
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 am writing this letter to inform you that Chris will be happy to attend the party. It would be a great surprise to him. He will spend quality time with his friends and family at the birthday party.
Unfortunately, I can not attend the party. The reason is that my mother is in the hospital because she has severe pain in her stomach. I can not leave her. The doctor said it will take two or three more days to recover.
I will meet him later on. I will make a plan to meet Chris next weekend. I will take him to a restaurant for dinner to celebrate his birthday. I understand you're feeling bad, but this is my problem, and I can not come. Hope you will understand my situation better.
I am looking forward to hearing from you soon.
Your loving ones,
Amarjit
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
The student covers all three bullet points required in the task instructions. First, the writer explains why Chris will enjoy the party, stating that he will spend quality time with friends and family. Second, the inability to attend is clearly explained due to a mother being hospitalised with severe stomach pain. Third, a concrete alternative plan is provided, which involves taking Chris out for dinner at a restaurant next weekend. The tone is generally appropriate for a letter to a friend's parents, although phrases like 'this is my problem' sound slightly unnatural in this context. Overall, the task is fully addressed, satisfying the requirements for a Band 7.0.
Coherence and Cohesion: Band 6.5
The letter has a clear overall logical organisation and progression. The text is divided into appropriate paragraphs, each focusing on a distinct point: the first covers Chris's enjoyment, the second explains the absence, and the third outlines the alternative plan. Cohesive devices are used, but they are sometimes repetitive or basic, such as starting multiple sentences with 'I will' or 'I can not'. The sign-off 'Your loving ones' is slightly inappropriate for a letter to friends' parents, where 'Warm regards' or 'Best wishes' would be more natural. However, the progression of ideas is easy to follow throughout, placing it firmly at Band 6.5.
Lexical Resource: Band 6.0
The vocabulary used is generally adequate for the task, allowing the writer to communicate personal news clearly. There are attempts at less common phrasing, such as 'quality time' and 'severe pain'. However, the range is somewhat limited, and there is repetition of basic words and structures throughout the body paragraphs. Word choice is mostly appropriate, though expressions like 'I understand you're feeling bad' are overly direct and lack the stylistic nuance expected at higher bands. Minor slips do not impede communication, making this a solid Band 6.0 performance for lexical resource.
Grammatical Range and Accuracy: Band 6.0
The writer demonstrates a mix of simple and complex sentence forms, such as 'The reason is that my mother is in the hospital because she has severe pain in her stomach.' There are several grammatical structures attempted with good control, and punctuation is generally accurate. However, there are noticeable recurring errors and limitations, such as repetitive use of modal verbs ('can not') and slightly abrupt sentence boundaries. While these errors do not impede communication, the lack of a wider variety of complex structures and frequent simple-sentence patterns keep the score at Band 6.0.
See this exact question answered at other band scores. The same prompt compared across bands.
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