Band 4.0 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer
Overall Band Score: 4.0 · Cambridge IELTS 17 · 2026-11-03
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 4.0)
Dear Mr,Iam Raja Saad Nisar khan. iam beste of your son cheris, me and cheris are fellow. we study together at same school.
I think i remembered you chris birthday is coming week. i want ,you give surprise to chris, because he love surprises. Usually when i have classes we all friends give the surprise to cheris. He think very happy that's it.
I want i attend this party and we all sit together and mange the birthday the party and invite the friends decorate the home and i know cheris like some special things i wil ordered and its very essential day for chris no one thing cam be miss handled please if you want wel all surprised the cheris i came to your home and we start the preparations of party and i tell the dancers and some lyrics team. He will come .we all enjoying the party
you're sincerely
saad
AI examiner evaluation
| Criterion | Band |
|---|---|
| Task Achievement / Task Response | 3.0 |
| Coherence and Cohesion | 3.5 |
| Lexical Resource | 4.5 |
| Grammatical Range and Accuracy | 4.5 |
| Overall | 4.0 |
Task Achievement / Task Response: Band 3.0
You give a relevant reason Chris may enjoy a surprise, saying “he love surprises,” and you include ideas about decorating and inviting friends. However, the letter does not address two essential points: you never explain why you cannot attend, and you do not propose a specific alternative time to see Chris. Instead, much of the response describes helping prepare and attending the party, which conflicts with the task. The purpose and relationship are also unclear in places, such as “I am beste of your son.” To improve, answer each bullet directly: give a clear reason for your absence and suggest a definite day or activity with Chris afterwards, while keeping the party details focused on why he would enjoy it.
Coherence and Cohesion: Band 3.5
There is some basic organisation: you begin with an introduction, then discuss the surprise, and finish with a sign-off. The ideas about friends, decorations and entertainment are related to the party. However, progression is difficult to follow because several ideas are joined in one long sequence, especially the paragraph beginning “I want I attend this party.” The repeated references to preparing and attending also make the central message unclear, and there are no clear paragraphs separating the task points. Use one short paragraph for each purpose—Chris’s likely reaction, your reason for not attending, and your alternative plan—and connect sentences with simple, accurate links such as “because,” “however” and “instead.”
Lexical Resource: Band 4.5
You use some relevant vocabulary for the situation, including “surprise,” “birthday,” “friends,” “decorate” and “preparations,” so the reader can identify the general topic. There are also attempts to express enthusiasm and personal knowledge of Chris. However, word choice and spelling are often inaccurate or unclear, as in “beste,” “fellow,” “mange the birthday,” and “lyrics team.” Some phrases do not convey a clear meaning, such as “no one thing cam be miss handled.” Aim for familiar, precise expressions rather than trying to add unclear details: for example, say that Chris “would love seeing his friends” or that you “cannot attend.” Check spelling and use natural collocations when describing party arrangements.
Grammatical Range and Accuracy: Band 4.5
You attempt both short statements and longer sentences, and the basic message can sometimes be understood. However, control of sentence structure and basic grammar is inconsistent. Examples include “he love surprises,” “He think very happy,” and “we all enjoying the party,” where verb forms or sentence construction are faulty. The long sentence beginning “I want I attend this party” contains several ideas without clear grammatical boundaries, and punctuation and capitalisation are also unreliable. Practise forming complete sentences with a clear subject and verb, and check agreement and tense—for example, “He loves surprises” and “He will be very happy.” Shorter sentences would help you communicate each point more accurately.
See this exact question answered at other band scores. The same prompt compared across bands.
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