Band 5.5 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 5.5 · Cambridge IELTS 15 · 2026-08-27

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 5.5)

I read the news yesterday for you are looking for people to give part-time voluntary work. This museum is valuable part of people life and we have to give our best to safe and save it.

I want to do part time voluntary work because i know the value of this public place and i really enjoy with this service because it allows me to sense of be resposible for our country. I like this type of work and it gives me proud of my nation in my life.

I have some skills and qualities to manage public. On the weekend, i know, many people visit this museum and i know also you are uncomfortable with croud and unmanaged staff. So, i decide, i give my best to manage this croud so public can visit easily this museum and they not feel any trouble on their visit.

I am available daily after my work in the evening at the time 6pm to 10pm. So i can easily give this time to manage museum service.

All public places's resposibility are very important and we should try to understand it.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 5.5

You have addressed all three bullet points required by the prompt: explaining your motivation, describing your skills, and stating your availability. However, the development of these ideas is somewhat limited. For instance, your explanation of why you want to volunteer is repetitive, and the description of your skills is vague, focusing more on the museum's problems (crowds) rather than your specific qualifications. To reach a higher band, ensure that your ideas are fully extended with more specific detail. The tone is generally appropriate for a formal letter, though it occasionally slips into a more conversational style.

Coherence and Cohesion — Band 5.5

The letter is organized into logical paragraphs, which helps the reader follow your points. However, the use of cohesive devices is quite mechanical and sometimes inaccurate. For example, phrases like 'So, i decide' and 'So i can easily' are used repetitively to link ideas. There is a lack of variety in transition words, and some sentences feel disconnected from the previous ones. To improve, try using a wider range of linking words such as 'furthermore', 'consequently', or 'in addition' to create a smoother flow between your sentences and paragraphs.

Lexical Resource — Band 5.5

Your vocabulary is adequate for the task but lacks the precision and range required for higher bands. There are several instances of awkward word choices, such as 'enjoy with this service' instead of 'enjoy this type of work' and 'give proud of my nation' instead of 'gives me a sense of pride'. Additionally, there are spelling errors like 'croud' (crowd) and 'resposible' (responsible). While your meaning is generally clear, the limited range of vocabulary and the frequent errors in word formation and collocation prevent a higher score.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 5.5

You use a mix of simple and complex sentence structures, but there are frequent grammatical errors throughout the text. Issues include missing articles ('in the evening at the time 6pm'), incorrect verb forms ('i know the value... and i really enjoy'), and punctuation errors. Some sentences are grammatically incomplete or awkward, such as 'I read the news yesterday for you are looking for'. While these errors do not completely impede communication, they occur frequently enough to distract the reader. Focusing on subject-verb agreement and correct preposition usage will significantly improve your accuracy.

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

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