Band 7.5 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 7.5 · Cambridge IELTS 15 · 2026-09-20

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 7.5)

Dear Sir or Madam,

I am writing to apply for a part-time volunteer position at the museum. I would like to volunteer as I am enrolled in a university pursuing a PhD in History. Any hours working at the museum work would prove beneficial for me as this would allow me to learn and study numerous artifacts of history.

I want to contribute a lot to the museum through my interpersonal skills and an immense knowledge of history. I have been taking part in history exhibitions where I introduce guests and students to myriad articles of ancient history. In addition to this, I have exceptional organising skills that would definitely allow me to contribute a lot to the tidiness of the museum.

I would gladly like to start this work by the forthcoming week. The museum is not far from my residence allowing me a congenial commute via public transit.

I hope to hear from you soon.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 7.5

The response successfully covers all three bullet points required in the task instructions. The student clearly explains the motivation for volunteering by mentioning their PhD studies in History and the desire to study artifacts. They also describe relevant skills and qualities, such as interpersonal skills, exhibition experience, and exceptional organisational abilities. Additionally, details regarding availability are provided, stating a start date by the forthcoming week alongside convenient commuting options. The tone is appropriately formal for a letter to a director. All parts of the prompt are fully addressed with relevant, well-developed ideas, meeting the criteria for a strong performance.

Coherence and Cohesion — Band 7.0

The letter is logically organised with a clear overarching progression. Each paragraph focuses on a distinct aspect of the prompt, ensuring the structure is easy to follow. Paragraphing is used appropriately to separate the introduction, the body paragraphs addressing the bullet points, and the concluding sign-off. Cohesive devices are employed reasonably well, as seen in phrases like 'In addition to this' and 'allowing me'. However, referencing and transitions could be slightly more varied and seamless to reach the highest bands. Overall, the text flows well and cohesion is clear and unobtrusive.

Lexical Resource — Band 7.0

The student demonstrates a sufficient and appropriate range of vocabulary for this task. Less common lexical items and collocations are used effectively, such as 'interpersonal skills', 'exhibitions', 'artifacts of history', and 'congenial commute'. Word choice is generally precise, and meaning is communicated clearly throughout. There are occasional minor lexical awkwardnesses, such as 'work working at the museum work', but these do not impede communication. The vocabulary supports the formal tone of the application letter quite well, reflecting a solid command of English lexical features.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 7.5

A good mix of simple and complex sentence structures is used throughout the letter. The student demonstrates control over complex clauses, such as 'Any hours working at the museum work would prove beneficial for me as this would allow me to learn...' and 'The museum is not far from my residence allowing me a congenial commute'. There is a minor slip with repetitive wording ('work working... work'), but the majority of sentences are error-free and punctuation is handled correctly. Grammar does not impede communication at any point, showing a commendable standard of accuracy.

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

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