Band 7.0 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 7.0 · Cambridge IELTS 17 · 2026-10-18

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 7.0)

Dear Mr. and Mrs, Collins,

Thank you very much for inviting me to the surprise birthday party for Chris which is planned on September 26. As glad as I am upon getting the invitation, I would like to inform you that I would not be able to attend it.

But I can surely give my two cents on why Chris will enjoy the surprise party, as this is something he was hoping for so long. We were having a conversation few months ago where he mentioned how much he likes surprises, as he thinks it shows how much people love and care for you. He also said that usually his birthdays are celebrated at home with a simple cake and dinner, so having a party of his own would feel amazing.

However, as I mentioned I will not be able to make it because my mother's doctor's appointment is on the same day. Her gynaecologist was out of town for six weeks so it is mandatory for us to reach for the appointment on time.

Not to worry, I plan on meeting Chris for dinner on September 27. As an apology and a gift to him for his birthday, the dinner will be on me.

Thank you once again for the invitation.

Regards,

Sumbul

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response: Band 7.5

The letter addresses all three required points and maintains a clear, appropriate purpose. You explain why Chris would enjoy the surprise, supporting this with his stated fondness for surprises and his usual simple birthday celebrations. The reason for your absence is also specific, and the proposed dinner on September 27 gives a clear alternative plan, including your offer to pay. These details make the response well supported overall. To develop the ideas further, make the explanation of the appointment’s urgency slightly clearer and ensure the invitation date and alternative plan are presented as naturally connected details. The content is relevant and extended, though a little more precision would make the response feel fully polished.

Coherence and Cohesion: Band 7.0

The information follows a clear sequence: you acknowledge the invitation, explain Chris’s likely reaction, give your reason for declining, and suggest another meeting. Paragraphing helps distinguish these stages, and transitions such as “However” and “Not to worry” guide the reader through the message. The progression is easy to follow, although some linking feels slightly formulaic: “as I mentioned” refers back to an earlier statement without adding much, and “But I can surely give my two cents” creates a somewhat abrupt shift in tone. A smoother transition into the explanation of Chris’s preferences would improve flow. Also, the salutation punctuation is awkward, which slightly affects the presentation of an otherwise logically organised letter.

Lexical Resource: Band 6.0

You use an adequate range of vocabulary for a personal letter, including “surprise birthday party,” “gynaecologist,” “mandatory,” and “as an apology.” These choices communicate the situation clearly, and the reader can understand your meaning throughout. However, some expressions are imprecise or not quite natural in context. “Give my two cents” is informal and does not fit especially well when explaining why Chris will enjoy the party; “reach for the appointment” is also an inaccurate collocation. “As glad as I am upon getting the invitation” sounds awkward, while “a party of his own” is less precise than describing a celebration organised for him. More natural collocations and consistent control of register would make your vocabulary more flexible and accurate.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy: Band 6.5

The letter includes a useful mix of simple and complex structures, such as “as this is something he was hoping for so long” and the explanation beginning “Her gynaecologist was out of town for six weeks.” Meaning remains clear, and several sentences are controlled. Some grammatical errors and awkward constructions remain, however. In “We were having a conversation few months ago,” the article “a” is needed before “few months”; “he was hoping for so long” needs a suitable tense or time expression, such as “had been hoping for this for a long time”; and “as I mentioned I will not be able” needs punctuation after the introductory clause. The salutation also has incorrect punctuation. Greater accuracy in articles, tense choices, and clause punctuation would strengthen the range already demonstrated.

See this exact question answered at other band scores. The same prompt compared across bands.

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