Band 6.0 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer
Overall Band Score: 6.0 · Cambridge IELTS 17 · 2026-10-12
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,
Hope you are doing well, I am delighted to hear about a surprise birthday party for Chris and thank you for inviting me. I must say he will be amazed when you will riveal this secret to him as he love surprises. I do not think so he has thought of this ever.
Unfortunately, I would not be able to attend this party because I have a my USA visa interview scheduled that day and I am travelling to another city for it. I am really sorry about this but this a very crucial day for me.
However, I will definately visit Chris on the very next day of this event with a interesting surprise gift I have bought for him and I know he will understand my situation of not coming to his party. I also want you guys to forgive me to not coming to party.
Hope you guys will enjoy a lot and I will see you soon. Best of luck for the party preparation and thank you for the invitation.
Your Faithfully,
Kim Jim
AI examiner evaluation
| Criterion | Band |
|---|---|
| Task Achievement / Task Response | 6.5 |
| Coherence and Cohesion | 7.0 |
| 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 enjoys surprises, give a specific reason for missing the party (a visa interview in another city), and suggest visiting the next day with a gift. These details make the letter relevant and show a clear purpose. The explanation of why Chris will enjoy the event is less developed, however: “he love surprises” and “I do not think so he has thought of this ever” are brief and do not explain what makes the occasion especially enjoyable for him. The alternative plan is also clear but could be more definite by proposing a time or asking whether the next day suits the family. This covers the task well overall, with some ideas needing fuller development.
Coherence and Cohesion: Band 7.0
The letter has a clear progression: you thank the parents and discuss the surprise, explain your absence, offer an alternative visit, and close with good wishes. Paragraphing supports this sequence, and transitions such as “Unfortunately” and “However” help signal the change in focus. The organisation is easy to follow throughout. Some linking and reference choices are less natural, though: “this party” and “this event” repeat the same reference, while “I know he will understand my situation of not coming to his party” makes the connection between your apology and the proposed visit slightly cumbersome. A more direct link between the missed party and a specific alternative arrangement would make the cohesion more flexible and polished.
Lexical Resource: Band 5.5
You use enough vocabulary to communicate the main points, including “surprise birthday party,” “visa interview,” “crucial day,” and “surprise gift.” The tone is generally friendly and appropriate for a personal letter. However, several noticeable spelling and word-choice or collocation errors reduce precision: “riveal” for “reveal,” “definately” for “definitely,” “a interesting surprise gift,” and “forgive me to not coming.” Phrases such as “I do not think so he has thought of this ever” and “enjoy a lot” are also not idiomatic. These errors do not prevent the reader from understanding your message, but checking spelling and learning natural phrase patterns would make your vocabulary more accurate and fluent.
Grammatical Range and Accuracy: Band 5.5
You attempt both simple and more extended sentence forms, for example, “I would not be able to attend this party because I have a my USA visa interview scheduled that day” and “I will definitely visit Chris on the very next day.” The main message remains understandable, but some grammatical errors persist. Examples include the missing subject in “Hope you are doing well,” the incorrect article and determiner sequence in “I have a my USA visa interview,” and the agreement and tense problems in “he love surprises” and “when you will reveal.” The closing “Your Faithfully” also has an agreement and punctuation issue. Aim to form accurate clauses first, then add complex structures; careful editing for articles, verb forms, and sentence boundaries would improve control.
See this exact question answered at other band scores. The same prompt compared across bands.
Browse more IELTS Writing model answers or get your own writing scored by the same AI examiner.