Band 6.5 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 6.5 · Cambridge IELTS 15 · 2026-07-27

IELTS Writing Task 1 question

A museum near your home is looking for people to do part-time voluntary/unpaid work. You would like to do some voluntary/unpaid work at the museum. Write a letter to the museum director to apply for the voluntary/unpaid work. In your letter

• explain why you want to do voluntary/unpaid work at the museum
• describe some skills and qualities you have that would be useful
• give details of when you would be available for work

You do NOT need to write any addresses.

Begin your letter as follows:

Dear Sir or Madam,

Student answer (Band 6.5)

Dear Sir or Madam,

I hope this letter finds you well.

My name is Sam Mistry and I am writing to express my interest in voluntary work at your museum. I live near the museum and looking to do unpaid work. I want to do this voluntary work because I am interested about the ancient story and working at the museum will give me an opportunity to learn about those ancient histories.

At present, I am working as cashier job, therefore I have great communication skills which will help people to understand about things which are placed in the museum. Moreover, I can also do registration process at the front.

I am available only on Friday, Saturday and Sunday. Since I am working at the store, I need to show my commitment over there as well.

Thank you for considering my application, you can contact me at [redacted phone].

Yours faithfully,

Sam Mistry

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 6.5

You have addressed all three bullet points required by the task: explaining your motivation, describing your skills, and stating your availability. The tone is appropriate for a formal letter. However, the development of your ideas is somewhat limited. For instance, while you mention an interest in 'ancient story,' expanding on why this specifically appeals to you would have provided a more compelling application. Similarly, your skills are mentioned briefly; elaborating on how your communication skills have specifically helped customers in your current job would strengthen your case. Overall, the response is relevant and covers all requirements, but it lacks the depth needed for a higher band score.

Coherence and Cohesion — Band 7.0

The letter is logically organized with a clear introduction, body paragraphs for each requirement, and a formal closing. You use basic cohesive devices such as 'Moreover' and 'Since' to link ideas. However, the flow between sentences is occasionally mechanical, and the paragraphing could be more refined. For example, the transition between your current job and your availability is a bit abrupt. To improve, try to use a wider range of linking words and ensure that each paragraph focuses on a single, well-developed idea to enhance the overall progression of your argument.

Lexical Resource — Band 6.5

Your vocabulary is adequate for the task, allowing you to communicate your message clearly. You use some relevant terms like 'voluntary work,' 'communication skills,' and 'commitment.' However, there are some inaccuracies in word choice and collocation, such as 'interested about the ancient story' (should be 'interested in ancient history') and 'doing cashier job' (should be 'working as a cashier'). To reach a higher band, focus on using more precise vocabulary and natural collocations. Avoid repetitive phrasing and try to incorporate more specific terminology related to museum work or customer service environments.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 6.5

You demonstrate a mix of simple and complex sentence structures. While your meaning is generally clear, there are several grammatical errors, such as 'looking to do' (missing the auxiliary 'I am'), 'understand about things' (unnecessary preposition), and 'do registration process' (missing an article). These errors do not impede communication, but they are frequent enough to prevent a higher score. To improve, pay closer attention to subject-verb agreement, the correct use of articles, and prepositional phrases. Practicing the construction of more complex sentences with accurate punctuation will also help you demonstrate greater grammatical control.

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