Band 6.5 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 6.5 · Cambridge IELTS 15 · 2026-08-13

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 am writing to express my interest in the voluntary position available at your museum. I would be grateful for the opportunity because it's directly aligned my current studies. It helps me to gain a valuable skills for the future opportunities.

Let me explain the situation to you. I am particularly interested in volunteering at your museum because it is closely related to my current studies. In addition to fulfilling my academic requirements because I have to summit my volunteer experience to pass the final examination. However, I want to ensure I develop skills that will be valuable in my future career.

I am interested in this unpaid work because I have strong communication and teamwork skills, which I develop through my academic projects. I am also comfortable interacting with different types of people because of my outgoing and sociable personality, which can allow me to assist visitors in your museum.

I am available on weekdays after 4:00 PM.Unfortunately I would not be available at weekends because I need to focus on my studies and complete the assignments.

Thank you for your time and consideration. I am looking forward to hearing from you.

Yours faithfully,

Anuj Sood

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 7.0

The letter covers all three bullet points required by the prompt. You clearly explain your motivation for volunteering, describe your relevant skills, and provide your availability. The tone is appropriate for a formal letter. However, there is some repetition in the first two paragraphs regarding your studies, which makes the development slightly redundant. To improve, ensure that each paragraph introduces a distinct idea rather than restating the same point. Overall, the task is fully addressed, and the purpose of the letter is clear throughout.

Coherence and Cohesion — Band 6.5

The letter is logically organized into clear paragraphs, each focusing on a specific aspect of the prompt. You use some cohesive devices such as 'In addition to', 'However', and 'Therefore' (implied). However, some transitions feel a bit mechanical, and the connection between the first and second paragraphs is weak due to the repetitive content. The use of referencing is generally clear, and the overall progression of ideas is easy to follow. To reach a higher band, focus on using a wider variety of linking words and ensuring that each paragraph flows naturally into the next without repeating information.

Lexical Resource — Band 6.0

You demonstrate an adequate range of vocabulary for the task, using terms like 'voluntary position', 'academic requirements', and 'sociable personality'. There are some minor errors in word choice and collocation, such as 'summit my volunteer experience' (should be 'submit') and 'gain a valuable skills' (should be 'gain valuable skills'). While the vocabulary is sufficient to convey your meaning clearly, it lacks the precision and flexibility required for higher bands. Try to incorporate more sophisticated collocations related to professional settings to enhance the quality of your writing.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 6.0

You use a mix of simple and complex sentence structures. While many sentences are clear, there are several grammatical slips, such as 'it's directly aligned my current studies' (missing 'with') and 'which I develop' (should be 'developed'). Additionally, the phrase 'because I have to summit' is a fragment when used as a standalone sentence. Despite these errors, the meaning is never in doubt, and the communication remains effective. To improve, focus on subject-verb agreement and ensuring that complex sentences are constructed with accurate tense usage and prepositions.

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

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