Band 5.5 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer
Overall Band Score: 5.5 · Cambridge IELTS 15 · 2026-07-31
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 5.5)
Dear Sir or Madam,
I am writing this email to discuss that I would like to apply for voluntary work. The organization is looking for somebody who can work part-time without pay.
Firstly, I would like to do voluntary work because it will enhance my skills, and I will be able to contribute to society. I will enjoy working in my free time.
In addition, I could assist you with organin
AI examiner evaluation
| Criterion | Band |
|---|---|
| Task Achievement / Task Response | 5.5 |
| Coherence and Cohesion | 5.5 |
| Lexical Resource | 5.5 |
| Grammatical Range and Accuracy | 5.5 |
| Overall | 5.5 |
Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 5.5
The response is significantly under-length, failing to meet the 150-word minimum requirement. Consequently, the task is only partially addressed. While you mention why you want to volunteer and touch upon skills, the response is incomplete, cutting off mid-sentence ('organin'). Because the letter is unfinished, you have failed to provide details regarding your availability, which was a specific requirement of the prompt. To improve, you must ensure all bullet points are fully developed and that you meet the minimum word count to allow for a complete, coherent letter structure.
Coherence and Cohesion — Band 5.5
The response is too brief to demonstrate effective paragraphing or a logical flow of ideas. While you use basic cohesive devices like 'Firstly' and 'In addition', the text ends abruptly, which prevents the development of a coherent structure. To achieve a higher score, you need to organize your ideas into clear paragraphs—an introduction, body paragraphs for each bullet point, and a closing—using a wider variety of linking words to connect your thoughts smoothly.
Lexical Resource — Band 5.5
The vocabulary used is functional but very limited. You rely on basic phrases such as 'discuss that I would like to apply' and 'enhance my skills'. There is no attempt to use less common or more precise vocabulary related to volunteering or museum work. The incomplete sentence also prevents a full assessment of your lexical range. To improve, try to incorporate more specific terminology related to the context, such as 'curatorial assistance', 'community engagement', or 'flexible availability'.
Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 5.5
The grammar is generally accurate in the few sentences provided, but the range of structures is very limited. You rely on simple sentence constructions. The abrupt ending makes it impossible to assess your ability to use complex structures or maintain accuracy over a longer piece of writing. To improve, focus on incorporating a mix of simple and complex sentences (e.g., using relative clauses or conditional structures) and ensure you complete your thoughts to avoid grammatical fragmentation.
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