Band 6.0 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 6.0 · 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 6.0)

Dear Mr and Mrs Collins

I hope you and your family doing well. Its been a long time since we last caught up. Last week, I recieved your inviation letter to Chris birthday party. I am delighted that you are organizing a surprise for him. Unfortunately, I am not able to attend it, due to my final term examination.

As Chris was living in Canada from last years. Due to his busy schedule, he does not have time to celebrate his birthday every year . This surprise birthday party will create him a wonderfull memory for his whole life. However, I was not able to join you for this event. Currently, I am in the final semester of Human resourse managemnet and my examination will held in the same month of Chris birthday, and not able to travel during this period.

But, I am planning to visit Australia, after my final examination and planning to visit Chris and you. Moreover, I am planning for some sight seen with Chris and I am planning to throw a party for him.

Thanks for the invitation. Hope you and Chris will enjoy party.

Loveingly,

Pankaj

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response: Band 6.5

You address all three points: you explain that Chris may value the surprise because he has not celebrated regularly, give your final examinations as the reason you cannot attend, and propose visiting after the exams. The explanation of why he will enjoy the party is relevant, but the claim that it will create “a wonderful memory for his whole life” is quite general and could be supported with a more personal detail about Chris. Your alternative plan is also present, though “some sightseeing” and “throw a party” would be clearer with a proposed time or specific arrangement. The letter is appropriately directed to his parents and maintains a friendly purpose; developing these details more fully would make the response more complete.

Coherence and Cohesion: Band 6.5

The letter has a recognisable progression from greeting and thanks, to the reason for declining, and then to a future plan. Paragraphing helps separate the main ideas, and linking expressions such as “Unfortunately,” “However,” and “Moreover” guide the reader. Some connections are less clear or repetitive: the inability to attend is stated twice, and “As Chris was living in Canada from last years” is left as a fragment before the explanation about his birthday. The repeated “I am planning” also makes the final paragraph feel mechanical. Combine related information and use clearer references and transitions so each paragraph advances the message without restating it.

Lexical Resource: Band 5.5

You use vocabulary suited to a personal letter, including “surprise,” “final semester,” “examination,” and “organizing,” and the intended meaning is generally understandable. There are, however, noticeable spelling and word-choice problems, such as “recieved,” “inviation,” “wonderfull,” and “sight seen.” Some phrases are also unnatural or imprecise: “create him a memory” and “from last years” do not express the intended ideas idiomatically. The range is adequate for the task, but greater accuracy with common collocations and careful proofreading would make the letter more fluent and precise. Prefer natural expressions such as “create a lasting memory” and “go sightseeing.”

Grammatical Range and Accuracy: Band 5.5

You attempt both simple and more developed sentence forms, and the main message can usually be followed. Some grammatical errors remain, particularly in verb forms, sentence construction, and articles. For example, “I hope you and your family doing well” needs a finite verb (“are doing”), while “my examination will held” needs the passive form “will be held.” The sentence beginning “As Chris was living…” is incomplete, and “I am planning to visit Australia … and planning to visit Chris” would be clearer with parallel verb forms. There are also punctuation and spacing slips. Check that each sentence has a complete clause and review auxiliary verbs and tense consistency.

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