Band 5.5 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer
Overall Band Score: 5.5 · Cambridge IELTS 17 · 2026-10-13
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 5.5)
Dear Mr & Mrs Collins,
I hope you are doing well. I am writing this letter to tell you that, due to an emergency, I could not attend the party.
First of all, thank you for inviting me to Chris surprise party. Chris will enjoy the party because he always likes surprises. When he sees their firend's he will be happy. I could not attend the party because of the same day I having a important meeting at my office. I tried to took a leave but I do not get it. However, I am planning to come to Australia next week. I will surprise him when I come. I will meet chris that time, and I will bring some nice gifts for him. Moreover, at that time we will be visiting other places together.
I would like to thank you again for inviting me. I will see you soon.
Yours wishes,
Jerry.
AI examiner evaluation
| Criterion | Band |
|---|---|
| Task Achievement / Task Response | 6.0 |
| Coherence and Cohesion | 5.5 |
| Lexical Resource | 5.0 |
| Grammatical Range and Accuracy | 5.5 |
| Overall | 5.5 |
Task Achievement / Task Response: Band 6.0
You address all three points: you explain that Chris likes surprises, give a reason for missing the party, and suggest meeting during your visit to Australia next week. The reason for absence is understandable, and the plan to bring gifts and visit places together adds relevant detail. However, some ideas are not fully clear or developed. For example, “When he sees their firend's” does not explain clearly whose friends will be there, and “I will meet Chris that time” gives no specific day or activity. The opening also says you “could not attend,” which sounds as though the party has already happened, while the invitation suggests it is still upcoming. Clarifying the timing and making the alternative plan more specific would strengthen the response.
Coherence and Cohesion: Band 5.5
The letter follows a generally sensible order: you thank the parents, explain why Chris may enjoy the party, give your reason for not attending, and propose meeting later. Linking phrases such as “First of all,” “However,” and “Moreover” help connect the points. However, the response is presented as one long paragraph, so the different purposes of the letter are not clearly separated. Some connections are also awkward or unclear, particularly the shift from “due to an emergency” to a work meeting, and the reference to seeing Chris “that time.” Use separate paragraphs for the party, your apology and alternative plan, and the closing. More precise references and fewer formulaic transitions would make the progression easier to follow.
Lexical Resource: Band 5.0
You use enough everyday vocabulary to communicate the main message, including “surprise party,” “important meeting,” “gifts,” and “visiting other places.” The tone is mostly appropriate for a friendly letter to your friend’s parents. However, the range is limited and several word choices or forms are inaccurate, which makes parts of the letter less natural. “Chris surprise party” needs a possessive form, while “their firend's” is unclear and contains a spelling error. “Yours wishes” is not a natural letter closing. Aim for more precise phrases, such as describing Chris as “fond of surprises” and saying you “were unable to get leave.” Check spelling and possessives carefully, and choose conventional expressions for greetings and sign-offs.
Grammatical Range and Accuracy: Band 5.5
You attempt both simple and more extended sentence forms, and the main message can generally be understood. For example, “Chris will enjoy the party because he always likes surprises” uses a clear subordinate clause, while “I will surprise him when I come” combines ideas effectively. Some grammatical errors remain, however. In “I could not attend the party because of the same day I having a important meeting,” the reason clause is incorrectly formed and the verb is missing its auxiliary; “I tried to took a leave” also uses the wrong verb form. There are further issues with articles and tense consistency, including “a important meeting” and the shift between “could not attend” and future plans. Practise accurate past and future forms, articles, and verb patterns.
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