Band 6.5 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 6.5 · Cambridge IELTS 17 · 2026-10-07

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,

Hope you are doing well. Thank you so much for inviting me to Chris's surprise birthday party and I remember Chris saying me several times that he love surprises. So, I am sure he is going to be extremely happy also, it will become one of the memorable moments of his life.

Unfortunately, I won't be able to come to the party because of an important family event. My presence is needed there so I would not be able to make it this time. Also, both the parties are at same time in the evening which made it hard for me to choose one. My parents want me to join them and due to that I have to attend our family function.

I was thinking to visit Chris in my next summer vacation and we can spend some quality time together. We can also visit nearby beaches in your area. Once again, I am so sorry to disappoint you but I hope that you will understand my situation.

Thanks,

Yours truly,

Mani

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response: Band 7.0

You address all three points clearly. You explain that Chris enjoys surprises and that the party could become a memorable occasion; you give a specific reason for your absence, namely a family event at the same time; and you suggest meeting during your next summer vacation, including a possible trip to nearby beaches. These details make the letter relevant and your regret is clear. The main limitation is that some ideas are asserted rather than fully developed: for example, you could explain briefly why Chris especially enjoys surprises or suggest a more definite date or activity for your visit. Overall, the purpose and intended relationship with the recipients are clear throughout.

Coherence and Cohesion: Band 7.0

The letter has a clear progression: you thank the parents and explain Chris’s likely reaction, give your reason for declining, then propose another time to meet. Paragraphing supports this sequence, and linking expressions such as “Unfortunately,” “Also,” and “Once again” help guide the reader. The plan to visit in summer follows naturally from the apology. Some connections are less smooth, particularly “I am sure he is going to be extremely happy also, it will become…” where two ideas are joined without a clear boundary. The explanation of the family event also repeats the same reason in several sentences. More varied, precise links and tighter phrasing would make the cohesion more flexible and less repetitive.

Lexical Resource: Band 6.0

Your vocabulary is adequate for the purpose and includes suitable expressions such as “surprise birthday party,” “memorable moments,” “family event,” and “quality time.” The meaning remains clear, and you use a polite tone appropriate for writing to Chris’s parents. However, some choices are imprecise or do not sound natural in context: “one of the memorable moments of his life” is an overstatement, while “visit nearby beaches in your area” is somewhat vague. “Family function” also repeats the idea of a family event rather than adding detail. Aim for more natural collocations and precise descriptions, while keeping the friendly register. This would make your language more flexible and accurate.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy: Band 5.5

You attempt both simple and more complex sentences, including explanations with “because” and “which,” and the reader can follow your message. However, some grammatical errors remain. For example, “Chris saying me” needs a different verb pattern, and “he love surprises” has an agreement error. In “both the parties are at same time,” the article is missing, while “which made it hard” shifts tense awkwardly from the surrounding present-time explanation. The sentence beginning “I am sure…” also joins two independent ideas with only a comma. These issues do not prevent understanding, but they limit accuracy. Check verb patterns, subject–verb agreement, articles, and sentence boundaries when editing.

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