Band 5.5 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 5.5 · Cambridge IELTS 21 · 2026-11-08

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 5.5)

Dear Sir/Maam,

I am writing to express my views about the garbage, which has been dumped in countryside area. This is mostly used by walker that causes increase in litter iday by day. The area is near to my house and more often I saw plastic bags on the sides. The park management should impose heavy fines.

To commence, due to my hectic schedule I am not able to go gym. So usually I enjoy and manage my workout by jogging or walking in the evening. Evenually, the area is very close to my house due to which, it is more convenient to me.

Mostly, when I walk; there are lot of plastic bags especially of eatable one on the ground. Earlier the number were less but as for now it can be found easily around all the corners.

The authoriy should take a strict action towards this concern for example putting fines if somebody is caught taking plastic bags in that area. It can also be done by placing the noticeboard near to the entarance to aware people about it.

I would be grateful if you review this matter and response at your earliest convenience.

Your Sincerely,

Smith

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response: Band 6.0

You address all three points: you explain that walking or jogging is a convenient way to exercise near your home, describe plastic bags and food packaging on the ground, and propose fines and notices. The purpose of writing to the newspaper is clear, and the request for the matter to be reviewed gives the letter an appropriate closing. Some points are less fully developed, however. The location is described only as “near to my house,” so readers do not get a clear picture of the countryside area, and the suggestions could be explained more specifically—for example, who would enforce fines or maintain the notices. Developing these details would make the response more complete and persuasive.

Coherence and Cohesion: Band 5.0

The letter has a recognisable structure, with an opening, separate paragraphs for your reasons for walking, the litter, and possible action, followed by a closing. This helps readers identify the main points. However, the progression is not always smooth: the opening already mentions the location, litter, and fines before the later paragraphs explain them, creating repetition. Some linking phrases, such as “To commence” and “Evenually,” do not connect ideas naturally, and the semicolon in “when I walk; there are” interrupts the sentence. Organise the points in a clearer sequence and use straightforward links such as “I enjoy walking because…” and “In addition, the council could…” to improve flow.

Lexical Resource: Band 5.0

You use enough vocabulary to communicate the main ideas, including “hectic schedule,” “plastic bags,” “heavy fines,” and “noticeboard.” There are also attempts at more formal language, such as “express my views” and “at your earliest convenience.” However, several word choices and spelling errors make the letter less natural and occasionally unclear: “eatable one” is not an idiomatic way to describe food packaging, while “authoriy,” “entarance,” and “Evenually” are misspelled. “Garbage” is understandable, but “litter” better matches the task and British English context. Aim for accurate, natural collocations and check spelling carefully; this will make your vocabulary more precise without requiring unnecessarily formal wording.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy: Band 5.5

You attempt both simple and more complex sentence forms, including “The area is near to my house” and “due to which, it is more convenient to me.” The main message remains understandable, but some grammatical errors affect accuracy. For example, “This is mostly used by walker that causes increase” has unclear reference and missing grammatical elements; “Earlier the number were less” has a subject–verb agreement problem; and “if you review this matter and response” does not keep the verb forms parallel. Punctuation is also inconsistent, as in “when I walk; there are.” Use complete, clearly structured sentences, check singular and plural agreement, and keep verb forms consistent when joining actions.

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

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