Band 6.5 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 6.5 · Cambridge IELTS 15 · 2026-09-19

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 you are doing well.

I am Dilshad Shaik, and I am studying for a Bachelor of Science degree at Nethaji University, which is near a museum. I am searching for a part-time job near my location. While I was searching for a part-time job on the internet, I found an opportunity for part-time voluntary/unpaid work. I would like to do some voluntary/unpaid work at the museum.

I am very interested in learning about history and ancient things. Since I have studied a subject related to history, I hope this job will help me even though it is not a paid job. Personally, this job will help my studies by improving my understanding of museums and voluntary work. I have skills which are useful for this job, such as communication, leadership, teamwork and organization. I enjoy helping people and would be happy to welcome visitors, provide directions and assist with activities. I am reliable, work well in a team and am eager to learn about the museum’s collections.

I hope this letter finds you well, and I look forward to your response regarding the job at the museum.

Yours faithfully,

Dilshad Shaik

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 6.5

The candidate has successfully covered all parts of the task prompt. The letter clearly explains why the writer wants to do voluntary work at the museum, mentioning a strong personal interest in history and a desire to support their studies. Furthermore, the response describes relevant skills and qualities, such as communication, leadership, teamwork, organisation, and reliability. Finally, the letter addresses the availability requirement, although it would have been improved by including specific dates or days of the week. Nevertheless, all bullet points are adequately addressed and developed, fulfilling the requirements for Band 7.

Coherence and Cohesion — Band 6.5

The letter maintains a clear and logical progression throughout. The structure follows standard formal letter conventions, starting with an appropriate salutation and closing. Ideas are grouped reasonably into paragraphs, transitioning from the introduction of the writer and the purpose of the letter, to personal motivations and skills, and finally to a polite sign-off. Cohesive devices are used, though some phrases like 'While I was searching for a part-time job on the internet' feel a bit repetitive or mechanical. However, paragraphing is managed sufficiently, ensuring the overall arrangement is coherent and easy to follow, supporting a solid Band 7 score.

Lexical Resource — Band 5.5

The candidate demonstrates an adequate and generally appropriate range of vocabulary for the task. Words and phrases such as 'voluntary/unpaid work', 'ancient things', 'reliable', and 'museum's collections' communicate the message effectively. There are some attempts at less common vocabulary, but phrases like 'ancient things' and 'job' could be more precise. Spelling and word choice are generally accurate, and vocabulary does not impede communication. While the range is sufficient for some flexibility, it lacks the broader flexibility and precision required for higher bands, placing this comfortably in the Band 6 category.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 6.5

The response features a mix of simple and complex sentence forms, demonstrating control over basic grammar. Structures such as relative clauses ('which is near a museum') and subordinate clauses ('While I was searching...') are used with reasonable accuracy. There are some minor repetitive patterns, such as starting multiple sentences with 'I', but grammatical errors are rare and do not impede communication. Punctuation is handled well throughout the letter. Because the majority of sentences are grammatically sound and control is generally good, this performance satisfies the descriptors for Band 7.

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

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