Band 7.0 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer
Overall Band Score: 7.0 · Cambridge IELTS 17 · 2026-10-02
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,
Firstly, thank you very much for the invitation to the surprise celebration for Chris's birthday.
I think Chris will thoroughly enjoy this surprise party, especially at his favourite restaurant and bar. Chris will definitely love seeing everybody again as it has been a while since he has seen all of his friends and family and he always enjoys seeing his friends and family.
Unfortunately I will be unable to attend. Reluctantly, I am actually working abroad on the proposed date and as a result I can't make it. It is frustrating as I usually don't work abroad and my work said they can't be flexible with the proposed dates already.
Nonetheless, I would love to see Chris again, potentially at a different date and time, if that is alright with you and Chris of course. Could we please arrange to meet for Chris' party on the Saturday after I return from work at 10:00am at his favourite walking trail. Please let me know if this is suitable.
Kind regards,
Niall
AI examiner evaluation
| Criterion | Band |
|---|---|
| Task Achievement / Task Response | 7.5 |
| Coherence and Cohesion | 7.0 |
| Lexical Resource | 6.5 |
| Grammatical Range and Accuracy | 7.0 |
| Overall | 7.0 |
Task Achievement / Task Response: Band 7.5
You successfully cover all three required bullet points in the prompt, earning a strong score for this criterion. You begin by appropriately noting why Chris will enjoy the surprise party at his favourite restaurant and bar, and you clearly explain your inability to attend due to work commitments abroad. Furthermore, you provide a specific alternative plan to see Chris on the Saturday after you return at his favourite walking trail. The ideas are generally well-extended and supported throughout the letter, reflecting a clear understanding of the general training task requirements. To reach the highest band levels, some of the supporting details could be slightly more concise and polished, avoiding minor repetitions regarding friends and family, but your overall coverage of the communicative goals is fully accomplished.
Coherence and Cohesion: Band 7.0
Your letter demonstrates a clear logical organisation and progression from opening to sign-off. You use paragraphing effectively to separate each distinct part of the task, such as the initial thanks, the discussion of the party, the explanation of absence, and the alternative proposal. Cohesive devices are handled well overall, allowing the reader to follow your train of thought smoothly. For instance, transitional phrases like 'Firstly', 'Unfortunately', and 'Nonetheless' help guide the reader through the letter. To achieve an even higher score, you could ensure that referencing between sentences is slightly more varied and seamless, avoiding minor mechanical feel in transitions, but your current control successfully maintains a coherent and logical text.
Lexical Resource: Band 6.5
You demonstrate an adequate and sufficient range of vocabulary for the task, successfully attempting less common items with general precision. Phrases like 'thoroughly enjoy', 'reluctantly', and 'proposed date' show a good awareness of style and appropriate letter-writing tone. However, there are a few minor issues with word choice and collocation, such as saying 'arrange to meet for Chris' party on the Saturday' when you are actually proposing an alternative meeting instead of the party itself, and some slight repetition of words like 'friends and family'. These occasional slips prevent a higher score, but your vocabulary remains clear and fully adequate for communication.
Grammatical Range and Accuracy: Band 7.0
You display a good variety of sentence structures, mixing simple and complex forms effectively throughout the letter. There are frequent error-free sentences, and you show good control of tense usage, such as when shifting between present realities and future plans (e.g., 'I would love to see Chris again... if that is alright'). Punctuation and grammatical patterns are generally well-managed. A few minor slips persist, such as the missing comma after 'Unfortunately' and slight awkwardness in phrasing clauses like 'my work said they can't be flexible'. Nevertheless, your grammatical control is solid, and errors rarely impede communication, reflecting a strong command of sentence architecture.
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