Band 6.0 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 6.0 · Cambridge IELTS 17 · 2026-10-11

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 Collins,

I hope you both are doing well.I have just recieved your email regarding the invitation to Chris's surprise birthday party.It made me feel so glad.Chris always loves getting surprises.I am pretty sure that it will make him feel very good.However, i am writing this letter to inform you both that i will not be able to attend this party.I have to go for a very important workshop in my office on that day.The workshop is mandatory for every employee and you cannot skip it.I would have loved to attend Chris's party and help you both in arranging it but due to work obligations, unfortunatly i cannot.But i will surley come on next day to see him.It is appreciated that if you do not inform him regarding my visit so i can give him another surprise.I cannot wait to meet Chris.And also, donot forget to share pictures and videos from the party.Once again, apology for refusing your warm invitaton.

With love,

Moneeza

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response: Band 7.0

You address all three points clearly: you explain that Chris enjoys surprises, give a specific reason for missing the party (a mandatory work workshop), and suggest visiting the next day. The friendly tone and request to keep your visit secret also suit the purpose of the letter. Your ideas are relevant and the reader can understand your intentions throughout. To make the response more fully developed, explain a little more about why Chris enjoys surprises—for example, mention a past reaction or what he particularly likes about them. The alternative plan could also be more precise by proposing a time or asking whether the next day would suit the family. These additions would extend the ideas rather than leaving them somewhat general.

Coherence and Cohesion: Band 5.5

The information follows a sensible order: you respond to the invitation, explain your absence, and then propose another visit. Linking expressions such as “However,” “but,” and “Once again” help signal the relationships between ideas. However, the letter is presented as one long paragraph, so the shifts between these stages are not visually clear. Some connections also feel abrupt, particularly the move from the visit plan to asking for photos and videos. Use separate paragraphs for the party response, your reason for declining, and the alternative plan. A few transitions could be more natural, and the repeated use of “and” makes parts of the closing feel like a list rather than a smoothly connected sequence.

Lexical Resource: Band 5.5

You use enough vocabulary to communicate the situation and maintain a warm, personal tone, including “mandatory,” “work obligations,” and “surprise.” The wording is generally understandable, but several expressions are imprecise or unnatural for this context, such as “make him feel very good,” “come on next day,” and “It is appreciated that.” There are also noticeable spelling errors, including “recieved,” “unfortunatly,” “surley,” and “invitaton,” which reduce the accuracy of the vocabulary. Aim for more natural collocations and check spelling carefully. For example, you could say that Chris “will be delighted by the surprise” and that you “would be happy to visit the following day,” which would sound clearer and more idiomatic.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy: Band 6.0

You use a mix of simple and more developed sentence forms, and the main message remains clear. For instance, “I have to go for a very important workshop in my office on that day” gives a direct explanation, while the sentence beginning “I would have loved to attend” adds a more complex structure. Some grammatical and punctuation errors remain. In “It is appreciated that if you do not inform him,” the clause structure is faulty; write “I would appreciate it if you did not tell him.” Capitalise “I” consistently, and add spaces after full stops, as in “doing well.I have.” The phrase “on next day” also needs an article: “the next day.” These corrections would improve control without changing your clear meaning.

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