IELTS Essay Bank · GT Task 1 letters · Application letter
Applying for a Volunteer Position: Band 7 Sample Letter
194 words · Topic: Society ·
The question
You have seen an advertisement for volunteers to help at a local community centre and you would like to apply. Write a letter to the volunteer coordinator.
In your letter:
- say which volunteer role you are interested in and where you saw it advertised
- describe any relevant skills or experience you have
- explain when you would be available to help
Write at least 150 words. You do NOT need to write any addresses.
Begin your letter as follows: Dear Sir or Madam,
Band 7 sample letter
Highlighted = useful vocabularyDear Sir or Madam,
I am writing to apply for the position of volunteer homework helper at your community centre, which I saw advertised on the noticeboard at my local library last week.
I believe I have the skills and experience needed for this role. I am currently in the final year of a teaching degree, and as part of my course I have spent two placements in primary schools, where I supported small groups of children with reading and basic maths. In addition, for the past two years I have tutored my neighbour's son in English, and I have seen how much his confidence has grown. I am patient, well-organised and I genuinely enjoy working with young people, especially those who find school work challenging.
Regarding my availability, my university timetable is lighter this term, so I could help on Tuesday and Thursday afternoons from 3 to 6 p.m.. I would also be happy to cover the occasional Saturday morning if the centre needs extra helpers during exam periods.
I would be delighted to attend an interview at a time convenient for you. Thank you for considering my application.
Yours faithfully,
Kwame Mensah
Word count: 194
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The same question is ready on its practice page, with a Band 8–9 model answer to compare.
Why this is Band 7: criterion by criterion
Task Achievement
Band 7All three bullet points are covered and the purpose is clear from the opening sentence, which names both the role and where it was advertised. The tone is consistently formal and appropriate for an application ("I would be delighted to attend an interview"). Relevant experience is well chosen and supported with two examples, and availability is specific. The first bullet, though, is handled in a single sentence with no reason for choosing this particular role, and the availability does not mention when the writer could start — the bullets could be more fully extended, which keeps this at Band 7.
Coherence and Cohesion
Band 7The letter is logically organised, with each paragraph built around one bullet point and a clear topic sentence ("I believe I have the skills and experience needed for this role", "Regarding my availability"). A range of cohesive devices is used appropriately, including relative clauses that link ideas ("where I supported small groups…", "especially those who…"). There is a slightly mechanical feel to "In addition" joining the two experience examples, but progression is clear throughout — Band 7.
Lexical Resource
Band 7There is sufficient range to allow some flexibility and precision, with appropriate formal phrases ("advertised on the noticeboard", "a time convenient for you") and less common items used with awareness of collocation ("how much his confidence has grown", "find school work challenging"). There is one collocation error: "I have spent two placements" should be completed two placements (you spend time, not placements). With only occasional slips like this, Lexical Resource is Band 7.
Grammatical Range and Accuracy
Band 7A variety of complex structures is used with good control: present perfect for experience ("I have tutored"), non-defining and defining relative clauses, a conditional ("if the centre needs extra helpers") and polite modals ("I could help", "I would be delighted"). Most sentences are error-free. There are a few errors: the list "I am patient, well-organised and I genuinely enjoy…" is not parallel (I am patient and well-organised, and I genuinely enjoy…), and "6 p.m.." has a double full stop. Good control with a few errors fits Band 7.
Useful vocabulary and collocations
- I am writing to apply for
- the standard formal opening for an application letter.
- advertised on the noticeboard
- the correct preposition and verb for where you saw a notice.
- how much his confidence has grown
- shows the result of experience, not just the experience itself.
- find school work challenging
- a tactful, precise way to describe struggling students.
- a time convenient for you
- a polite formal phrase that leaves the choice to the reader.
How this letter could reach Band 8
- 1Extend the first bullet with a reason for choosing this role (for example, your plan to become a teacher), and add a start date to the availability paragraph.
- 2Fix the small accuracy points: completed two placements, a parallel list (patient and well-organised), and a single full stop after p.m.
- 3Link the two experience examples more naturally than "In addition" — for instance, Outside my studies, I have also… — so the paragraph flows as one argument.
This is an original sample letter written by IELTS-Bank to illustrate Band 7 against the public IELTS Writing band descriptors. The band scores are our assessment, not an official IELTS result. IELTS-Bank is not affiliated with, endorsed by, or connected to the British Council, IDP: IELTS Australia, or Cambridge University Press & Assessment. "IELTS" is a registered trademark of its respective owners and is used here for descriptive purposes only.