Band 7.5 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer
Overall Band Score: 7.5 · Cambridge IELTS 17 · 2026-10-22
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 7.5)
Dear Mr and Mrs Collins,
Thank you very much for inviting me to Chri's surpise birthday party. I truley appreciate being included in such a thoughful plan, and I am sure Chris will absolutely love the surprise. He enjoys spending time with close friends amd family, and unexpected celebrations always make him feel special. Having everyone gathered together will definitely make his birthday memorable and meaningful for him.
Unfortunately, I regret to inform you that I will not be able to attend the party. I already have a prior commitement on that day due to an important work-related engagement, which I am unable to reschedule. I am quite disappointed to miss the celebration, as I would have love to be there.
However, I have made a plan to see Chris at a different time. I am hoping to meet him the following weekend and take him out for dinner to celebrate his birthday properly. I also plan to give him his gift then and spend some quality time catching up.
Thank you once again for the kind invitation, and I hope the party is a greate success.
Kind regards,
Dhrumil
AI examiner evaluation
| Criterion | Band |
|---|---|
| Task Achievement / Task Response | 7.5 |
| Coherence and Cohesion | 7.5 |
| Lexical Resource | 7.0 |
| Grammatical Range and Accuracy | 7.0 |
| Overall | 7.5 |
Task Achievement / Task Response: Band 7.5
The letter addresses all three points clearly: you explain why Chris will enjoy the gathering, give a specific work-related reason for being unable to attend, and suggest dinner the following weekend as an alternative celebration. The ideas are relevant and supported—for example, you connect Chris’s enjoyment of friends and family with the surprise and explain that you will give him his gift when you meet. The tone is appropriately warm and considerate throughout. To develop the response further, make the alternative plan slightly more definite, such as proposing a particular day or checking whether Chris is free. This would add precision to an already complete response. The nine words copied from the task prompt were not counted in the authoritative length check.
Coherence and Cohesion: Band 7.5
The information follows a clear, natural sequence: appreciation and reasons Chris will enjoy the party, your apology and explanation, then an alternative plan and closing. Paragraphing separates these functions effectively, and transitions such as “Unfortunately,” “However,” and “Thank you once again” help the reader follow the letter. The references to Chris and the party remain clear, and the overall progression is easy to understand. To make the organisation even more polished, avoid relying mainly on explicit transition words and use a little more variety in how you connect related ideas. For instance, the final paragraph could link the dinner plan directly to your regret at missing the party, creating a smoother transition.
Lexical Resource: Band 7.0
You use a suitable range of vocabulary for a friendly but respectful letter, including “thoughtful plan,” “work-related engagement,” “memorable and meaningful,” and “quality time.” These choices convey warmth and make the message more specific than a basic account. There are, however, occasional spelling errors—“surpise,” “truley,” “commitement,” and “greate”—and a few phrases could be more natural or precise. For example, “prior commitment” is more idiomatic than “prior commitement,” while “celebrate his birthday properly” is understandable but somewhat general. Proofreading spelling and selecting more precise collocations would make your vocabulary control more consistent and flexible.
Grammatical Range and Accuracy: Band 7.0
The letter includes a useful mix of sentence forms, including complex clauses such as “I am sure Chris will absolutely love the surprise” and “which I am unable to reschedule.” Most sentences are clear, and the conditional-style explanation and future plans are communicated effectively. A few grammatical errors remain: “I would have love to be there” should be “I would have loved to be there,” and “I am hoping to meet him the following weekend” would be clearer as “I hope to meet him the following weekend” if the plan is definite. These errors do not prevent understanding, but checking verb forms and choosing tense consistently would strengthen accuracy. Continue using complex structures while proofreading them carefully.
See this exact question answered at other band scores. The same prompt compared across bands.
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