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 writing this letter regarding the waste thrown by people near countryside area of my house.I live in urban area and i usually spend my time by walking especially where everything is quiet and free of noise pollution and that place is near my home .

I have noticed from past few days that there has been a lot of plastic and paper waste near my walking road . At first it used to be one or two bottles of waste but this has been increasing continously . The reason of this cause is because several indiviuals come to run every weekend near countryside area.

I would suggest you to keep recycling bins so everyone should use it ,In addition fine should be imposed if anybody litter near walking side.

I will wait for your responce in local newspaper .

Yours faithfully,

Lovepreet kaur

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response: Band 5.5

You address all three bullet points: you explain that you enjoy quiet walks near your home, describe plastic and paper waste, and propose recycling bins and fines. These are relevant ideas, but some are only briefly developed. For example, the description gives little detail about where the litter accumulates or how it affects the countryside, and the proposed measures are not explained beyond a short suggestion. The reason that runners visit at weekends is also presented unclearly as the cause of the litter. The letter is slightly below the required 150 words, so add a few relevant details to develop the impact of the problem and explain how your suggestions could help. A clearer, more fully supported account would address the task more completely.

Coherence and Cohesion: Band 6.0

The letter has a recognisable structure, with an opening, separate paragraphs for the problem and suggestions, and a closing. The sequence from your enjoyment of walking to the litter and possible solutions is generally easy to follow. However, some links between ideas are unclear or mechanical. For instance, “The reason of this cause is because” repeats the causal link without making the relationship clearer, and the shift from describing weekend runners to the litter is abrupt. Punctuation and spacing also make some sentences run together. Use clearer transitions and ensure each paragraph develops one connected point; this would make the progression smoother while preserving the useful overall organisation already present.

Lexical Resource: Band 5.5

You use enough topic-related vocabulary to communicate the main message, including “plastic and paper waste,” “noise pollution,” “recycling bins,” and “fine.” There is some variety in how you describe the issue, but several word choices and collocations are inaccurate or repetitive, such as “waste thrown,” “walking road,” and “fine should be imposed.” Spelling errors including “continously,” “indiviuals,” and “responce” also reduce accuracy. Aim for more natural phrases such as “litter left along the path” and “a fine should be imposed on anyone who litters.” More precise vocabulary for the location and effects of the rubbish would help you express the problem with greater clarity.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy: Band 5.5

You attempt both simple and more developed sentences, including “I have noticed… that there has been…” and a sentence beginning “At first… but…”. The main meaning is usually understandable, but errors in sentence construction, articles, agreement, and punctuation remain noticeable. For example, “near countryside area of my house” needs clearer article use, while “I would suggest you to keep recycling bins so everyone should use it” has an awkward verb pattern and unclear pronoun agreement. Capitalisation is also inconsistent in “i.” Review sentence boundaries and practise accurate patterns such as “I suggest that the council install bins so walkers can use them.” Greater control of these forms would make your ideas easier to read.

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

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