Band 5.0 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer
Overall Band Score: 5.0 · Cambridge IELTS 17 · 2026-10-23
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 5.0)
Dear Mr and Mrs Collins,
I hope you are doing well. I am writing this letter as I know you are planning a surprise birthday part for Chris and i am very happy that you invited me also.
Firstly, I want to know from you why you think that Chris will like the suprise party as I assumed that Chris do not like suprise parties. He always say if anyone want to gift him anything tell him first. Furthermore, I am really very sorry I will not able to attend the party as my parents and me are going to my uncle house as he is not so well. But I really want to come.
Secondly, you should give details of a plan to me so Chris will not find out you are conducting a suprise birthday party for him. I will let you know where he will be so you can do the decoration at that time.
I look forward to hearing from you.
Yours sincerely,
Ayush
AI examiner evaluation
| Criterion | Band |
|---|---|
| Task Achievement / Task Response | 3.5 |
| Coherence and Cohesion | 4.5 |
| Lexical Resource | 5.5 |
| Grammatical Range and Accuracy | 5.5 |
| Overall | 5.0 |
Task Achievement / Task Response: Band 3.5
The letter recognises the invitation and gives a reason for not attending: you say you are going with your parents to visit an unwell uncle. However, the task’s key points are not properly fulfilled. Instead of explaining why Chris would enjoy the surprise, you ask the parents why they think he will like it and say he dislikes surprises. The final paragraph also asks the parents to provide a plan and offers to tell them where Chris will be; it does not give your own specific plan to see him at another time. These misunderstandings leave the purpose unclear and the ideas minimally developed. Address each bullet directly: explain what Chris would enjoy, state your absence clearly, and suggest a definite alternative meeting.
Coherence and Cohesion: Band 4.5
The response has a recognisable letter structure, with an opening, body paragraphs and a closing, and the reason for your absence is placed together in one section. However, progression is weakened because the paragraphs do not consistently develop the requested points. “Firstly” introduces a question rather than an explanation of Chris’s likely enjoyment, while “Secondly” introduces a request for the parents’ plan instead of your own alternative arrangement. The sequence therefore feels confusing, and the link between the surprise party and your offer to share Chris’s whereabouts is not made clear. Use one paragraph for each task point and connect them with straightforward transitions. Clearer referencing and a more logical order would make the letter easier to follow.
Lexical Resource: Band 5.5
You use enough everyday vocabulary to communicate the general situation, including “surprise birthday party,” “attend,” “decoration” and “look forward to hearing from you.” There are also attempts to express politeness and regret. However, several spelling and word-choice errors reduce accuracy, such as “suprise” and “part,” and “I am really very sorry” is awkwardly repetitive. Some phrases are also imprecise for the task: “give details of a plan to me” does not clearly express a proposed time to meet Chris. Choose familiar expressions carefully and use more precise wording for the alternative arrangement. Accurate spelling and natural collocations would make your message clearer and more appropriate as a personal letter.
Grammatical Range and Accuracy: Band 5.5
The letter includes both simple sentences and attempts at longer structures, for example, “as my parents and me are going to my uncle house as he is not so well.” The main meaning is usually recoverable, but errors in verb forms, agreement and sentence construction are noticeable. Examples include “Chris do not like,” “He always say,” and “I will not able to attend”; these should be “Chris does not like,” “He always says,” and “I will not be able to attend.” In “my parents and me are going,” the subject form should be “my parents and I,” and “my uncle house” needs a possessive form. Practise checking subject–verb agreement and complete verb phrases, while varying sentence patterns accurately.
See this exact question answered at other band scores. The same prompt compared across bands.
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