Band 6.5 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 6.5 · Cambridge IELTS 21 · 2026-11-06

IELTS Writing Task 1 question

You enjoy walking in the countryside near your home. However, you are noticing that there is more and more litter left there by other walkers.

Write a letter to your local newspaper. In your letter

• say why you enjoy walking and where

• describe the litter you have seen on your walks

• suggest what might be done about the problem

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 this letter finds you well. I am writing to draw your attention to the countryside, where individuals throw large amounts of garbage.

Since the countryside has beautiful scenery and pure air, I always like to go for a walk in this area. Whenever I walk in the narrow passages of that area, I feel healthy and fresh because of its greenery.

Over the last few weeks, I noticed that more and more litter has accumulated there. I have seen many residents leave bottles, food packets, and other used items there without thinking about how much pollution it will create. Although this area does not have dustbins, they do not even think about collecting it in one place; rather, they leave it on the road.

I believe effective steps should be taken to mitigate this situation. I suggest we should appeal to the government to put up an ample number of dustbins to collect the trash. Moreover, I think we should put up posters to spread awareness about the appropriate method to handle it.

Let me know what you think about it. I will wait for your response.

Yours faithfully,

Rony Rai

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response: Band 7.0

The letter addresses all three points and maintains a clear, appropriate purpose: you explain that you enjoy the scenery and fresh air, describe bottles and food packets left along the paths, and propose bins and awareness posters. These details make the complaint relevant and give the reader a clear picture of the problem. The suggestions are practical, though they are presented somewhat generally; for example, you could explain who should install or maintain the bins, or how posters might encourage walkers to take their rubbish home. The opening and closing suit a formal letter to a newspaper. Developing the proposed actions a little further would make the response more fully supported.

Coherence and Cohesion: Band 7.0

The information is organised in a clear sequence: purpose, enjoyment of the countryside, evidence of litter, and possible solutions. Separate paragraphs help the reader follow each part, and linking expressions such as “Over the last few weeks,” “Although,” and “Moreover” show relationships between ideas. The progression is logical throughout. Some connections are slightly mechanical, particularly the repeated use of “I” to introduce personal observations and suggestions, and “there” is used several times without always specifying the location again. You could vary the transitions and use clearer references to the paths or countryside. Overall, the letter is easy to follow, with cohesion that is effective but not consistently flexible.

Lexical Resource: Band 6.0

You use an adequate range of vocabulary for the topic, including “accumulated,” “pollution,” “mitigate,” and “awareness,” which help communicate the issue and proposed response. The descriptions of “bottles” and “food packets” are specific and relevant. However, some choices are less natural or precise in context: “narrow passages” is not the usual description of countryside walking routes, and “an ample number of dustbins” sounds awkward. “Used items” is also vague, while “garbage,” “trash,” and “litter” repeat similar ideas. These choices do not prevent understanding, but they show some inaccuracy when attempting less common vocabulary. Aim for natural collocations and precise terms such as “walking paths,” “a sufficient number of bins,” and “discarded packaging.”

Grammatical Range and Accuracy: Band 6.5

The letter includes a mix of simple and complex sentence forms, and several sentences are controlled well, such as “Since the countryside has beautiful scenery and pure air, I always like to go for a walk in this area.” The contrast introduced by “Although” also shows an attempt to vary structure. Some grammatical choices are less accurate: “I noticed that more and more litter has accumulated” shifts between past and present perfect in a way that is awkward for a continuing recent trend; “I suggest we should appeal” combines two forms that are not usually needed together; and “Let me know what you think about it” shifts to a more direct, informal construction. These do not obstruct meaning, but more consistent tense and clause patterns would improve control.

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

Browse more IELTS Writing model answers or get your own writing scored by the same AI examiner.