Band 5.5 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 5.5 · Cambridge IELTS 15 · 2026-10-15

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,

I hope you are doing well. i would like to apply for the voluntary work in the museum. I am going to new york after three months, in order to get a degree. So, i am sitting free, since my classes starts 3 months later from today. One of my friend suggested me to get this job, which can add experience to my resume. That is why i am going for this opportunity.

I would like to add that i was headgirl of my school and i learned number of managing skills while doing headgirl duties, which makes me a perfect candidate for you to choose.

If you think that my abilities matches the job description, you can contact me with the email below. I will be waiting for a positive response from you.

Simardeep

[redacted email]

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response: Band 5.0

You make your purpose clear by saying, “I would like to apply for the voluntary work,” and you give a reason for applying: gaining experience before moving to New York for your degree. You also mention a relevant quality, having been head girl, and provide an email address for contact. However, the task is only partly addressed: your skills are described generally as “managing skills,” and you do not explain how they would help with museum work. Most importantly, you give no details of when you are available to work, despite this being a required point. The response is also 12 words below the 150-word minimum. Add specific availability and develop your motivation and relevant abilities to make the application complete.

Coherence and Cohesion: Band 5.5

The letter has a recognisable sequence: you introduce your application, explain your circumstances, mention a qualification, and close with a request for contact. Paragraph breaks help separate these points, and phrases such as “That is why” show a basic link between your reason and your application. However, the progression is limited because the skills paragraph is brief and the letter moves directly from that point to the closing. The relationship between your future studies and your availability is not made clear. The final contact details are understandable, but a more conventional closing would make the letter feel more complete. Develop each required point in its own paragraph and use clear links between your experience, suitability, and schedule.

Lexical Resource: Band 5.0

You use enough basic vocabulary to communicate the main purpose, including “apply,” “experience,” “candidate,” and “abilities.” However, the range is limited, and several phrases are awkward or imprecise for a formal application. “Sitting free” does not naturally express that you have time available, while “get this job” sounds less suitable for unpaid voluntary work. “Managing skills” is also vague; naming skills such as organising events or communicating with visitors would be more precise. The phrase “positive response” is understandable but somewhat formulaic. Aim for natural, task-specific expressions and a more formal register, while keeping your wording clear and accurate.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy: Band 5.5

You attempt a mixture of simple and longer sentences, including the explanation beginning “I am going to New York after three months, in order to get a degree.” The main message remains understandable, but errors occur in several sentence patterns. For example, “my classes starts” has incorrect subject–verb agreement, and “One of my friend suggested me” has problems with the plural form and verb pattern. In “my abilities matches,” the verb does not agree with the plural subject. Capitalisation is also inconsistent, as in “i” and “sir.” Practise accurate agreement, articles and verb patterns, and proofread sentence openings and names. More reliable control of these basics would make your application easier to read.

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

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