Band 5.5 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer
Overall Band Score: 5.5 · 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 5.5)
Dear Mr and Mrs Collins,
I am writing to inform you that I would be unable to attend Chris's birthday party, as I were looking forward to meet him and enjoy his special day.
As he was away from you for a long period of time, he would be really excited when he got to know about the surprise party. During my talk to him, he was saying that he want to enjoy this birthday with family and friend and he was very excited for this day.
Unfortunately, I would not be able to attend this special day because I have an important family event to attend. I have promised my family that I will be there and I can not cancel this plan on such a short notice.
I would meet Chris next week because I have some an important appointment near your area, and after getting free from my work I will visit him at his house. I am looking forward to meet him very soon.
Best Wishes,
Lovepreet
AI examiner evaluation
| Criterion | Band |
|---|---|
| Task Achievement / Task Response | 6.0 |
| Coherence and Cohesion | 5.5 |
| Lexical Resource | 5.5 |
| Grammatical Range and Accuracy | 5.5 |
| Overall | 5.5 |
Task Achievement / Task Response: Band 6.0
You address all three points in the prompt: you explain that Chris would enjoy a family surprise, give a reason for your absence, and suggest meeting the following week. The detail that Chris had said he wanted to celebrate with family helps make the first point relevant. The reason for missing the party is also clear, although “an important family event” could be more specific. Your alternative plan is less fully developed: “next week” and a visit to his house give a general idea, but a particular day or a suggestion to arrange a time with Chris would make it more convincing. Overall, the main ideas are relevant, though some are clearer and more developed than others.
Coherence and Cohesion: Band 5.5
The letter has a sensible overall order: it opens with the reason for writing, then explains Chris’s likely reaction, your absence, and a future meeting. Separate paragraphs help the reader follow these points, and links such as “Unfortunately” and “because” make relationships clear. However, the opening combines the purpose of the letter with the conflicting idea that you were looking forward to attending, so the progression is not entirely smooth. Some references are also unclear, particularly “As he was away from you,” which makes the situation harder to follow. Improve cohesion by making each paragraph focus on one point and using clearer references to Chris and his parents.
Lexical Resource: Band 5.5
You use enough vocabulary to communicate the main message, including relevant expressions such as “surprise party,” “important family event,” and “looking forward.” The tone is generally suitable for a personal letter. However, several phrases are awkward or imprecise, such as “During my talk to him,” “enjoy this birthday,” and “some an important appointment.” These choices make parts of the letter less natural, even though the intended meaning is usually understandable. Aim for more accurate collocations and avoid repeating general words such as “special” and “important.” More natural phrasing would make your message clearer and more fluent.
Grammatical Range and Accuracy: Band 5.5
You attempt both simple and more complex sentences, for example, the sentence beginning “Unfortunately” gives a reason for your absence, and the final paragraph describes a future plan. The overall meaning remains understandable, but some errors occur in verb forms, agreement, and sentence construction. Examples include “as I were looking forward,” “he want to enjoy,” and “I would meet Chris next week,” where the tense or form does not fit the intended meaning. There are also errors in “looking forward to meet him” and “I have some an important appointment.” Review verb agreement, infinitive and gerund patterns, and articles, then proofread each sentence for a consistent time reference.
See this exact question answered at other band scores. The same prompt compared across bands.
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