Band 5.0 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 5.0 · Cambridge IELTS 21 · 2026-11-12

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 5.0)

Dear Sir,

I am writing to about noticing that there is more litter left there by other walkers.

First, I would like to say about why I enjoy walking and where. I like walk in the everning because it help me comfortable afer a long day. I usually walk in the countryside near my home.I feel health and relax. I also enjoy the air is fresh beautiful view.

In addition, I would like to say about describe the litter I have seen on walks. I see a lot of waste on the road. Many plastic bottle and plastic bag. This make countryside dirty and ugly. It also air pollution and water pollution.

Finally. I would like to say about suggest what might be done about the problem. People should not put waste bin. People to clean the countryside and keep the environment clean.

I look forward to hearing from you,

Your faithfully,

Nhi.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response: Band 5.0

You address all three bullet points: you explain that walking in the countryside near home helps you relax, mention plastic bottles and bags, and propose action. However, the ideas are brief and not fully developed; for example, the proposed response, “People should not put waste bin,” does not clearly explain what should happen. The letter is also 145 words, below the required 150-word minimum, so it needs a little more relevant detail. The opening and closing make the purpose recognisable, but “Dear Sir” does not follow the requested “Dear Sir or Madam,” and the sign-off is not correctly phrased. Add specific details about a favourite route, the litter’s effects, and practical measures such as bins or signs.

Coherence and Cohesion: Band 5.0

The response has a basic structure, with separate paragraphs for the reason for writing, the litter, and possible action. Sequencing expressions such as “First,” “In addition,” and “Finally” help signal these sections. However, the progression is mechanical and some links are inaccurate or incomplete: “I would like to say about describe” does not introduce the next point smoothly, while “Finally.” is incorrectly separated from the sentence that follows. The short statements about pollution also feel disconnected from the description of the rubbish. Use clearer topic sentences and connect each detail to its effect or proposed solution. This would make the letter’s organisation easier to follow without relying so heavily on formulaic transitions.

Lexical Resource: Band 5.0

You use enough basic vocabulary to communicate the main topic, including “countryside,” “plastic bottle,” “plastic bag,” and “environment.” However, the range is limited and several word choices or forms make the message awkward or unclear, such as “I feel health and relax,” “air pollution,” and “put waste bin.” There are also spelling errors, including “everning” and “afer.” These issues fit a response with a restricted but minimally adequate vocabulary: the reader can usually understand the intended meaning, but must sometimes interpret it. Build a more precise set of words for describing litter and solutions, and check spelling and natural word combinations before finishing.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy: Band 4.5

Most sentences use simple patterns, and attempts to express reasons and effects are visible, but grammatical errors occur frequently and sometimes make the meaning difficult to follow. Examples include “I am writing to about noticing,” “I like walk,” and “it help me comfortable,” where verb patterns, agreement, or sentence structure are faulty. “Many plastic bottle and plastic bag” is not a complete sentence, and “People to clean the countryside” also lacks a correctly formed verb phrase. Punctuation is inconsistent, as in “Finally.” before the next sentence. Practise complete sentences with accurate subject–verb agreement and verb forms, and use a few controlled complex structures, such as “because” clauses, rather than relying only on short statements.

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

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