Band 6.0 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 6.0 · Cambridge IELTS 21 · 2026-09-14

IELTS Writing Task 1 question

Student answer (Band 6.0)

Dear Sir or Madam,

I hope this letter finds you well. I am writing this to share a problem about garbage is being thrown in the countryside area by some people near to me.

My name is Sam Mistry, and I live at CreditView Road, Mississuaga. I usualy walks to our Riverview park, and this place is very clean and neat. Many people come here to enjoy the beauty of nature and sit here for while. However, for the last few weeks, I have seen some people leaving their thrashes in the park rather than throwing them into garbage bins. After some time, the amount of litter has been increased so much that it is stinking so much and there are so many rubbish like plastic bags are roaming around the area.

Therefore, I would like you to put this news into our local newspaper and also mention that whoever throws the garbage will be fined.

I look forward to your response promptly.

Yours faithfully,

Sam Mistry

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 6.5

The student successfully addresses all parts of the formal letter to a newspaper editor. The purpose of the letter is clearly stated in the opening, which is to report the issue of littering in the local countryside area and Riverview park. The writer details the problem effectively, explaining that people are leaving their rubbish behind instead of using bins, causing unpleasant smells and pollution. Finally, a clear request is made to feature this news in the local newspaper and suggest fines for offenders. The tone is appropriate for a formal complaint/request to an editor, and the format contains appropriate salutations and sign-offs. Ideas are well developed and relevant to the prompt, easily satisfying the requirements for a Band 6.5 or 7.0 task response.

Coherence and Cohesion — Band 6.0

The letter exhibits a coherent overall arrangement with a clear paragraph structure. Each paragraph serves a distinct purpose, from introducing the problem in the first two paragraphs to proposing the solution in the third paragraph. Basic cohesive devices such as 'However', 'After some time', and 'Therefore' are employed to guide the reader through the text, although some transitions feel a bit mechanical. Referencing is generally clear, for instance, connecting 'this place' back to Riverview park. While paragraphing is sufficient and appropriate for a short formal letter, a slightly smoother flow between sentences would be necessary for a higher band. Overall, the organisation is logical and easy to follow.

Lexical Resource — Band 6.0

The student demonstrates an adequate range of vocabulary suitable for a general task. Phrases like 'beauty of nature', 'local newspaper', and 'garbage bins' are used correctly. However, there are noticeable lexical errors and awkward collocations that prevent a higher score. For example, the phrases 'garbage is being thrown' (passive tense confusion), 'thrashes' (incorrect plural noun form for trash/litter), and 'rubbish like plastic bags are roaming around' (inappropriate use of 'roaming') detract from precision. Spelling errors like 'Mississuaga' and 'usualy' also occur. While communication is not impeded, these inaccuracies place the lexical resource firmly in the Band 6 category.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 6.0

The student attempts a mix of simple and complex sentence forms, such as 'Many people come here to enjoy the beauty of nature and sit here for while' and 'However, for the last few weeks, I have seen some people leaving their thrashes in the park'. However, there are several grammatical errors and awkward phrasing throughout the text. These include subject-verb agreement issues like 'the amount of litter has been increased' and 'there are so many rubbish... are roaming', as well as missing articles ('sit here for a while'). The spelling error 'usualy' is also noted. Despite these errors, the meaning remains clear and communication is not impeded, reflecting the descriptors for Band 5.5 to 6.0.

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

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