Band 4.0 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer
Overall Band Score: 4.0 · Cambridge IELTS 17 · 2026-10-16
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 4.0)
Dear Mr and Mrs collins,
Hello i am writting this letter because i can not attend chris's birthday party the reason of behind this i am not well.
I know that if i will come here he will be feel over the moon because we did not meet each others for long time , as well as we
AI examiner evaluation
| Criterion | Band |
|---|---|
| Task Achievement / Task Response | 3.0 |
| Coherence and Cohesion | 3.5 |
| Lexical Resource | 4.5 |
| Grammatical Range and Accuracy | 4.5 |
| Overall | 4.0 |
Task Achievement / Task Response: Band 3.0
You identify the main situation—being unable to attend—and begin to explain that Chris would enjoy a surprise, so the response is relevant to the task. However, the letter is incomplete: the reason for your absence is only stated as “I am not well,” the enjoyment point is unfinished, and you do not give any plan to see Chris at another time. The response also falls well short of the required 150 words, leaving all three points insufficiently developed. To improve, complete each bullet point with clear details, such as when you could meet Chris and what you could do together, and finish the letter with an appropriate closing.
Coherence and Cohesion: Band 3.5
The opening makes the purpose of the letter apparent, and the ideas begin in a broadly relevant order: you mention your inability to attend before explaining why Chris might enjoy the event. However, the response ends mid-sentence at “as well as we,” so there is no complete progression or conclusion. The connection in “the reason of behind this” is also unclear, and the shift from “I” to “we” is not explained. Use complete sentences and organise the letter into a short opening, one paragraph covering the party and your absence, and a final paragraph proposing another time to meet. Simple links such as “Unfortunately” and “Instead” would help guide the reader.
Lexical Resource: Band 4.5
You use a few suitable expressions for an informal personal letter, including “birthday party” and “over the moon,” which communicates enthusiasm. The vocabulary range is nevertheless limited because the response is very short and relies on basic wording such as “not well” and “come here.” Some choices are inaccurate or awkward: “the reason of behind this” does not express the reason naturally, and “meet each others” is not the correct form. Choose precise phrases such as “I’m unable to attend because I’m unwell” and “we haven’t seen each other for a long time.” Adding specific language about a future visit would also demonstrate a broader, more appropriate range.
Grammatical Range and Accuracy: Band 4.5
The response attempts a reason clause and a conditional structure, as in “because i can not attend” and “if i will come here,” showing some effort to connect ideas. However, control is inconsistent: “if i will come” uses an unsuitable verb form after “if,” “he will be feel” combines two verb forms incorrectly, and “we did not meet” does not clearly express the intended period continuing to the present. The final clause is incomplete, so it cannot be read as a complete sentence. Practise accurate forms such as “If I came, he would feel…” and “we haven’t seen each other for a long time.” Use capital letters for “I” and names, and punctuate complete sentences.
See this exact question answered at other band scores. The same prompt compared across bands.
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