Band 6.5 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer

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

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 am writing a letter to inform you about our local park is starting to be littered with trash. I suspect it's the other people visiting the area that is causing it.

I am enjoying my daily walks at Addington park together with my family. We always have our morning walk there to see the nice views and breathe some fresh air.

However, we noticed that there's been some waste lying in the grass, such as soda cans, dog litter, and some bags of chips. From the looks of it, some teenagers may have caused it by not throwing their litter in the rubbish bins and not picking up their pet's waste.

I request that you please write an article on your newspaper about catching the people littering our park and reminding everyone to keep our environment clean. After we identify these suspects, we should ask them to clean up their mess and correct their behavior.

I look forward to hear from you soon and reading your new article.

Yours faithfully,

Mr. Charles Lao

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response: Band 6.5

The letter addresses all three points: you explain that you walk daily at Addington Park with your family, describe cans, dog waste and chip bags, and ask the newspaper to raise the issue. The purpose and your concern are clear, and the examples make the problem concrete. The proposed response is less fully developed than the description: “catching the people littering” and asking them to clean up is not explained in practical terms, and the suggestion to publish an article could be supported with measures such as more bins or signs. The claim that teenagers may be responsible is also speculative. The response covers the task well overall, but fuller, more balanced development of the proposed solutions would strengthen it further.

Coherence and Cohesion: Band 6.5

The information is arranged in a clear sequence: purpose, enjoyment of the walks, the litter observed, and a request for action. Separate paragraphs help the reader follow these stages, while “However” effectively signals the shift from the pleasant walks to the problem. The letter also has an appropriate opening and closing. Some links are less smooth or precise: “I suspect it's the other people visiting the area that is causing it” is an awkward transition, and “After we identify these suspects” refers back to an accusation that has not been established. The progression is coherent overall, but clearer referencing and a more natural connection between the problem and proposed actions would make cohesion more flexible and less abrupt.

Lexical Resource: Band 6.0

You use an adequate range of vocabulary to communicate the situation, including “littered,” “waste,” “rubbish bins,” and “environment.” Specific examples such as “soda cans” and “bags of chips” make the description easy to understand. However, some choices are repetitive or imprecise for a letter to a newspaper: “trash” and “litter” overlap, “dog litter” is unclear, and “catching the people littering” sounds more accusatory than a measured public appeal. “Nice views” is understandable but general. Aim for more precise, natural collocations and a consistently appropriate tone, for example by referring to “dog waste” and asking the newspaper to encourage responsible behaviour. These refinements would add flexibility and precision.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy: Band 6.0

The letter includes both simple sentences and attempts at more complex structures, such as “From the looks of it, some teenagers may have caused it by not throwing their litter in the rubbish bins.” Most sentences are understandable, and errors do not prevent the reader from following your message. Some grammatical problems remain, however. “I am writing a letter to inform you about our local park is starting to be littered” incorrectly combines “about” with a clause; use “to inform you that…” or “about the litter in…”. “I look forward to hear from you” should be “look forward to hearing from you,” and “I am enjoying my daily walks” would more naturally describe a regular habit as “I enjoy my daily walks.” More accurate verb patterns and tense choices would improve control.

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

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