Band 6.0 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer
Overall Band Score: 6.0 · Cambridge IELTS 17 · 2026-10-08
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 6.0)
Dear Mr and Mrs Smith,
I hope this letter finds you well. I am Jasmeen, a closed friend of chris. I am excited to hear a news that you are throwing a surprised birthday party for him. He would definitely be a very happy knowing such a thoughful surprise from your side. He told me once that he wants to celebrate his 22nd birthday by organising a huge party for his friends and family members but he could not do it this time because of his limited budget. However,I am so happy that you guys have listened to his heart and his hidden wish.
Unfortunately, I would not be able to attend this party as I have some work commitments to fullfill. I have to attend one important meeting therefore I couldn't get some days of during that time.Moreover,I have requested my manager in advance but he denied my request for holidays.
However, I am planning to see a chris in the upcoming week hence we can spend some quality time together and visit to our favorite local restaurant and celebrate his birthday by having a small get together. Again, thank you for inviting me to this party and I hope he has a wonderful and best time.
Yours sincerely,
Jasmeen
AI examiner evaluation
| Criterion | Band |
|---|---|
| Task Achievement / Task Response | 6.5 |
| Coherence and Cohesion | 6.5 |
| Lexical Resource | 5.5 |
| Grammatical Range and Accuracy | 5.5 |
| Overall | 6.0 |
Task Achievement / Task Response: Band 6.5
You address all three points: you explain that Chris would value a party reflecting his wish to celebrate with friends and family, give work commitments as the reason you cannot attend, and suggest meeting at a local restaurant the following week. These details make the letter relevant and its purpose clear. The explanation of the surprise is the most developed, while the work conflict and alternative plan are less specific; for example, you could clarify when you are available and propose a particular day. There is also a mismatch with the prompt: it asks you to begin “Dear Mr and Mrs Collins,” but you write “Dear Mr and Mrs Smith.” The ideas are appropriate, but fuller development and closer attention to the given details would strengthen the response.
Coherence and Cohesion: Band 6.5
The letter has a clear overall sequence: you respond to the invitation, explain your absence, and then suggest another way to celebrate. Paragraphing supports this progression, and links such as “Unfortunately” and “However” help signal changes in purpose. Some connections are less smooth or precise, particularly “However, I am planning to see a chris,” where the transition does not clearly contrast with the preceding point and the reference to Chris is awkward. The final thanks and well-wishes provide a suitable closing, though “Again” is not the most natural link there. To make the organisation more polished, use transitions that express the exact relationship between ideas and keep references to people and events clear.
Lexical Resource: Band 5.5
You use enough vocabulary to communicate the main ideas, including “work commitments,” “limited budget,” and “quality time.” There are also attempts at more expressive language, such as “hidden wish” and “wonderful,” but several word-choice, spelling, and collocation errors make the writing less natural: “closed friend,” “a news,” “surprised birthday party,” and “fullfill.” Some phrases are also imprecise, such as “a very happy” and “a small get together.” These errors do not prevent the reader from understanding the message, but they limit the accuracy and flexibility of your vocabulary. Focus on common natural combinations and check spelling and word forms before sending the letter.
Grammatical Range and Accuracy: Band 5.5
You attempt a mix of simple and complex sentences, including a sentence with “because” and another beginning “I have requested my manager in advance.” Most of the message remains understandable, but some grammatical errors recur. Examples include “I am Jasmeen, a closed friend of chris,” “He would definitely be a very happy,” and “I am planning to see a chris,” which show problems with articles, sentence structure, and capitalization. In “I have to attend one important meeting therefore I couldn't get some days of during that time,” the clauses need clearer punctuation and the tense relationship is awkward. Practise checking articles, complete sentence patterns, and punctuation around joined clauses; greater accuracy across these structures would make the letter easier to read.
See this exact question answered at other band scores. The same prompt compared across bands.
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