IELTS General Task 1: Letter Applying for a Volunteer Position

IELTS Writing Practice — AI-Powered Feedback

Writing Prompt

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,

Show Band 8–9 model answer

Dear Sir or Madam,

I am writing to apply for the role of After-School Homework Support Volunteer, which I saw advertised on the noticeboard at the Riverside Public Library last Saturday.

I have three years’ experience working part-time as a teaching assistant at Brookfield Primary School, where I helped small groups of children with literacy and numeracy. This position allowed me to develop clear, patient communication skills and the ability to explain complex ideas in a simple, encouraging way. In addition, I have previously volunteered at a youth club, organising games and creative activities, so I am comfortable working with children from diverse backgrounds and managing behaviour calmly and fairly.

Regarding availability, I would be able to volunteer two afternoons per week, preferably on Tuesdays and Thursdays, from 3:30 p.m. to 6:00 p.m. I am also happy to assist occasionally at weekend events if additional support is needed, provided I receive a few days’ notice.

I would welcome the opportunity to discuss my application further and can attend an interview at your convenience.

Yours faithfully,
[Your Name]

Why this response works

This letter meets the task requirements fully, clearly addressing all three bullet points with specific, relevant detail. The tone is consistently formal and appropriate for a volunteer application. Ideas are logically organised into clear paragraphs, each with a distinct purpose, and cohesive devices are used naturally (e.g. "In addition", "Regarding availability"). Lexical resource is strong, with precise phrases such as "diverse backgrounds", "managing behaviour calmly and fairly" and "at your convenience". Grammatical structures are varied and accurate, with a good mix of complex and simple sentences and no noticeable errors in tense, agreement or punctuation.