Band 5.5 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer
Overall Band Score: 5.5 · Cambridge IELTS 15 · 2026-08-18
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/ Madam,
Subject:- Regarding I would like to do voluntary/unpaid work at the museum.
I am Mamta Negi I live near by museum, want to do voluntary work at the museum, I have interest in geography and history since my childhood and I love to spend time in museum , also can get some work experience.
I have very keen knowledge about geography and history, also I love to interact with people may be I can be useful for museum. And I have 5 years of experience with kids. If i can get work with kids I will be the best one. i live very close to the museum so that I can commute easily.
Regarding my availability, I am free every Saturday and Saturday,, Morning 7 am to night 8 Pm. If i will able to get this voluntary work i will to more than happy and i will give my 100 percent.
Thank you for your kind consideration.
Yours faithfully.
Mamta Negi.
AI examiner evaluation
| Criterion | Band |
|---|---|
| Task Achievement / Task Response | 5.5 |
| Coherence and Cohesion | 5.5 |
| Lexical Resource | 5.0 |
| Grammatical Range and Accuracy | 5.0 |
| Overall | 5.5 |
Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 5.5
The letter covers all three bullet points: the reason for applying, relevant skills, and availability. However, the development of these points is quite basic. For instance, while you mention an interest in geography and history, you do not explain how this would specifically benefit the museum's visitors or operations. The tone is somewhat informal and lacks the professional polish expected in a formal application letter. To improve, ensure each point is expanded with more detail to demonstrate your suitability for the role more convincingly. The structure is clear, but the content remains at a surface level, which limits the score.
Coherence and Cohesion — Band 5.5
The letter is organised into paragraphs, which helps the reader follow the structure. However, the use of cohesive devices is very limited. You rely on simple conjunctions like 'and' or 'also' to connect ideas, which makes the flow feel repetitive. There is a lack of transition words or phrases to link sentences logically (e.g., 'Furthermore', 'Consequently', 'In addition'). Additionally, the subject line is phrased awkwardly, and the transition between the introduction and the body paragraphs is abrupt. Improving the variety of linking words will significantly enhance the logical flow of your writing.
Lexical Resource — Band 5.0
The vocabulary is functional but basic. You use simple phrases such as 'I have interest in' and 'I love to spend time'. There is a lack of more sophisticated or topic-specific vocabulary related to volunteering or museum work. Some word choices are slightly unnatural, such as 'I will be the best one' or 'I will to more than happy'. To reach a higher band, try to incorporate more precise collocations and professional terminology, such as 'passionate about', 'contribute to', or 'flexible schedule'. Spelling is generally accurate, but the range of vocabulary is insufficient for higher bands.
Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 5.0
There are frequent grammatical errors throughout the text, including issues with articles ('the museum'), subject-verb agreement, and sentence structure. For example, 'I live near by museum' should be 'I live near the museum'. You also have run-on sentences and punctuation errors, such as the double comma in 'Saturday and Saturday,,'. The use of complex structures is limited and often contains errors, such as 'If i will able to get this voluntary work i will to more than happy'. While the meaning is generally clear, the high frequency of errors in basic grammar prevents a higher score.
See this exact question answered at other band scores — the same prompt compared across bands.
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