Band 7.0 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 7.0 · Cambridge IELTS 17 · 2026-10-03

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 you are doing well. I am writing to let you know that I was beyond excited to receive your invitation for Chris's surprise birthday party.

I think Chris will be so happy with this surprise. He has always loved birthday surprises in the college, and every year on his special day, he would expect a small celebration from us. He had been celebrating his birthdays in hostel for the last 4 years but this time he would celebrate it with his parents and siblings, and I am sure he would absolutely love it.

Although I really want to be a part of this auspicious occasion, unfortunately, I will not be able to attend this celeberation due to my ongoing final exams. These exams will continue till next month and before that it is very difficult for me to take out some time.

Would it be okay if I come next month to live at your place for a couple of days? As I will be having winter holidays after my exams, I really want to spend them with Chris. Moreover, it has been a long time since Chris and I have spent some quality time together. Let me know if it would be feasible for you to accomodate me next month.

Hope to see you and Chris soon.

Yours sincerely,

Sara

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response: Band 7.5

You successfully cover all bullet points required by the task prompt, presenting a clear purpose and an appropriate tone for a semi-formal letter. You address why Chris will enjoy the party, explaining how he loves birthday surprises and will appreciate celebrating with his family after years away in a hostel. You clearly state why you cannot attend due to final exams, and you provide a detailed alternative plan to visit his family next month during your winter holidays. All parts are addressed well, and your ideas are extended with relevant supporting details, though certain points like the specific college memories could be slightly more concise to better maintain focus.

Coherence and Cohesion: Band 7.0

Your letter demonstrates a clear logical organisation and progression throughout. You manage paragraphs appropriately, separating the opening, the discussion of the party, your absence and reasons, your alternative plan, and the closing remarks into distinct blocks. You use cohesive devices reasonably well, such as transitional phrases like 'Although I really want to be' and 'Moreover', which help guide the reader smoothly through your points. Referencing is generally clear, though occasional minor cohesion choices could be more subtly integrated to reach the highest level of natural flow.

Lexical Resource: Band 6.5

You demonstrate an adequate vocabulary range that allows you to communicate your message clearly and appropriately. You attempt some less common lexical items, such as 'auspicious occasion' and 'feasible', showing an awareness of style and collocation. However, there are occasional spelling and word-choice errors, such as spelling 'celebration' as 'celeberation' and 'accommodation' as 'accomodate', and using the slightly unusual phrase 'live at your place' instead of 'stay with you'. These minor slips show that you are operating at a solid intermediate level with glimpses of more ambitious vocabulary use.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy: Band 7.0

You display a good mix of simple and complex sentence forms, incorporating structures such as conditional and temporal clauses ('Although I really want to be a part...', 'As I will be having winter holidays...'). There are frequent error-free sentences, and your punctuation and overall control of grammar are generally sound. However, a few minor inaccuracies persist, such as 'He had been celebrating his birthdays in hostel' (missing the article 'a' or 'the') and 'take out some time' (which is slightly colloquial). Your control remains strong enough to ensure communication is never impeded.

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