Band 6.5 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 6.5 · Cambridge IELTS 17 · 2026-10-28

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 6.5)

Dear Mr and Mrs Collins,

I hope you are doing well. Thanks alot for inviting me to attend Chris birthday party. Unfortunately I would not be able to come on his birthday event.

I think Chris will enjoy the surprise party as it is his 18th birthday. As from last two years he did not celebrate his birthday as he was alone there. Moreover he will be more happy when you will give him this dream car. From last few years he is saving his money to buy the car but due to financial burden he is unable to complete his dream of buying it. Therefore, this will be his best birthday.

Due to my final exams I would not be able to attend the birthday party. I asked my professor to give my exam before or after the assigned date, but she reject my request and she told me that this is against the university policy. As a consequence I will not able to come on party.

Apart from this, I will come to see Chris after my final exams. I will stay with him for about a week and we will have enough time to create new memories and recape the old ones. I am very excited to see him.

See you soon.

Best wishes,

Abc

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response: Band 7.0

You address all three points clearly: you explain why Chris may enjoy the surprise, give your final exams as the reason you cannot attend, and propose visiting after the exams for a week. The details about his 18th birthday, missed celebrations, and wish for a car make the first point specific, while the exam explanation is supported by the professor’s refusal. The alternative plan is also clear, though it would be stronger with a definite time or suggested activity rather than “after my final exams.” To develop the response further, make the connection between the surprise and Chris’s likely reaction more explicit, and ensure the letter’s tone remains consistently natural and appropriate for writing to his parents.

Coherence and Cohesion: Band 6.5

The letter has a clear overall arrangement: an opening, separate paragraphs for the party, your absence, and the alternative visit, followed by a closing. This makes the main information easy to locate, and phrases such as “Moreover,” “Therefore,” and “Apart from this” help signal relationships between ideas. However, some linking is mechanical or not quite suited to the relationship between the ideas; for example, “Apart from this” introduces the alternative plan, which is more a continuation than a separate contrast. The opening also mentions your inability to attend before the reason is explained, creating slight repetition. Use a wider range of natural transitions and clearer references to make the progression smoother.

Lexical Resource: Band 6.0

You use an adequate range of vocabulary to communicate the situation, including “surprise party,” “financial burden,” “assigned date,” and “create new memories.” These choices help convey the main ideas, and the reader can understand your meaning throughout. Some expressions, however, are inaccurate or unnatural: “Thanks alot” should be “Thanks a lot,” “Chris birthday party” needs a possessive form, and “more happy” is better expressed as “happier.” “Dream car” is understandable, but “the car he has always wanted” sounds more natural in this context. There is also a spelling error in “recape.” Aim for accurate collocations and natural phrasing, rather than relying on direct translations or familiar expressions.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy: Band 5.5

You attempt both simple and complex sentences, including clauses with “as,” “but,” and “when,” and the overall message remains understandable. However, errors in verb forms, articles, and sentence construction limit accuracy. For example, “As from last two years he did not celebrate” needs a more accurate time expression and tense, while “she reject my request” should use the past form “rejected.” In “I will not able to come,” the verb “be” is missing, and “when you will give him” uses an unsuitable tense after “when.” Review past-tense consistency, articles and possessives, and the structure “will be able to.” More consistently accurate complex sentences would strengthen the letter.

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

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