Band 6.0 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 6.0 · Cambridge IELTS 17 · 2026-10-30

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 this letter finds you well. I would like to thank you for inviting me to surprise birthday party which you have planned for Chris.

I am exetremely happy and delighted for Chri's birthday which is coming this weekend. I am pretty sure Chris will enjoy it as you will be there to celebrate with him. Moreover, he just got graduated from the university which makes an extra reason to enjoy.

I wanted to inform you that I would not be able to attend the party as I have my exam coming next week. I will definitely miss this grand celebration and a chance to be around you at this huge ocassion.

However, I promise to see you and Chrisn after my exam is over. I have plenty of things to discuss with you and Chris as well. I hope we will have a great time on the dinner table very soon and enjoy the party to your full.

Yours sincerely

Ankit

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response: Band 6.0

You address all three points: you explain that Chris will enjoy celebrating with his parents and mention his graduation, give your exam as the reason you cannot attend, and propose meeting after it. These details make the letter relevant and its purpose clear. However, the first point is only partly developed: saying Chris will enjoy having his parents there is quite general, and the graduation is mentioned without explaining how it connects to the surprise. The alternative plan is also vague; “after my exam is over” does not say when you would meet or suggest a specific activity. Add a concrete time and plan, and develop why the surprise would appeal to Chris, to make the response more complete.

Coherence and Cohesion: Band 6.5

The letter has a clear overall arrangement: an opening, a paragraph about the celebration, an explanation for your absence, and a closing plan. Connectors such as “Moreover” and “However” help show how ideas relate, and the reader can follow the main message. This meets the lower-band expectation of coherent organisation and shows some flexibility in linking ideas. To make the progression more consistently smooth, avoid relying on broad transitions where a direct link would be clearer, and ensure references remain precise. For example, “I hope we will have a great time on the dinner table” shifts from the proposed meeting to a general celebration without specifying the plan. A more focused closing paragraph would strengthen cohesion.

Lexical Resource: Band 5.5

You use a reasonable range for a personal letter, including “celebrate,” “grand celebration,” and “plenty of things to discuss.” These choices communicate enthusiasm and the reason for your absence. However, several spelling and word-choice errors reduce accuracy, including “exetremely,” “ocassion,” and “Chri's.” Some phrases are also unnatural or imprecise: “got graduated” and “enjoy the party to your full” do not express the intended meaning idiomatically. The vocabulary is adequate to convey the message, but control of spelling, collocation, and word forms is inconsistent. Choose familiar expressions you can use accurately, and check names and spelling carefully before finishing.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy: Band 6.0

You use both simple sentences and more complex forms, such as “I am pretty sure Chris will enjoy it as you will be there” and “I would not be able to attend the party as I have my exam coming next week.” The main meaning remains clear, and the response shows some ability to connect clauses. Some grammatical errors remain, particularly with articles and verb forms: “inviting me to surprise birthday party” needs an article, while “he just got graduated” uses an incorrect construction. “I promise to see you and Chrisn after my exam is over” also has an unclear verb pattern for making a future arrangement. Practise accurate article use and natural future forms, while retaining the variety of sentence structures you already attempt.

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

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