Band 5.5 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 5.5 · Cambridge IELTS 21 · 2026-10-16

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,

I am a resident of your town. I am writing to express my concern about the surrounding area, which I enjoy walking every day. So, this specific place is in the countryside; I have observed that this area is not very clean. I love walking there because of the beautiful atmosphere and feel refreshed from my busy schedule. I noticed that cans, snack bags and disposable items are thrown here and there instead of in the garbage bins. I suggest that you can write a proper topic regarding awareness that garbage will be thrown in the proper place and in the nearby garbage bin. I hope you will understand the situation and publish the article as soon as possible.

Thank for you consideration,

Sincerely,

Reema.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response: Band 5.5

You address all three bullet points: you explain that you enjoy the countryside for its “beautiful atmosphere” and because it helps you feel refreshed, identify cans and snack bags, and ask the newspaper to raise awareness. However, the location remains vague (“the surrounding area” and “this specific place”), and the description of the litter is brief. Your proposed response is also under-developed: you mention an awareness article and bins, but do not explain clearly what readers or local authorities should do. The letter is 23 words below the required minimum, which limits the space available to develop these points. Add specific details about your walking route and litter, and give one or two practical, clearly explained measures.

Coherence and Cohesion: Band 5.0

The letter follows a broadly sensible order: it introduces your concern, gives a reason for walking, describes the rubbish, and makes a request. This gives the reader a basic sense of purpose. However, the ideas are crowded into one paragraph, so the progression is not clearly signposted. The opening also shifts abruptly from your concern to “So, this specific place,” and “I hope you will understand the situation” repeats the request without adding a new point. Use separate paragraphs for the reason for writing, the problem, and your suggestions. Connect each point directly to the next, and use linking phrases sparingly so the letter feels more organised rather than assembled from separate statements.

Lexical Resource: Band 5.5

You use enough everyday vocabulary to communicate the main issue, including “countryside,” “cans,” “snack bags,” and “garbage bins.” Some choices are imprecise or unnatural for this context, however. “The surrounding area” does not identify the walking location clearly, while “disposable items” is broad and “thrown here and there” is informal and vague. The phrase “write a proper topic regarding awareness” does not clearly express the action you want the newspaper to take. Aim for more precise collocations and wording, such as describing a local trail and asking the paper to publish an article encouraging walkers to dispose of rubbish responsibly. This would make your request clearer and more appropriate for a letter to a newspaper.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy: Band 5.5

Your meaning is generally understandable, and you attempt to combine ideas, for example in “I love walking there because of the beautiful atmosphere and feel refreshed from my busy schedule.” However, the sentence structure is not fully controlled: the subject of “feel refreshed” is unclear, and the two ideas are not joined in a parallel way. “I suggest that you can write” also uses an awkward clause pattern; after “suggest,” use a suitable structure such as “I suggest that the newspaper publish…” The closing “Thank for you consideration” contains errors in the verb and possessive form. Most sentences are simple, with limited variety. Practise accurate complex sentences and check articles, pronouns, and standard letter-closing phrases.

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