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 or Madam,

I am writing this email to express my concern about the issue of litter left there by other walkers near my home. As someone who enjoy walking in the countryside, I have noticed that people in my areas polluting the walkway around the town.

From the long time, I walk in the evening to fresh my mind because of the scenic views around the trails and small lake. It provides positive environment to the walkers to reduce daily life stress and gives relief.

There is a small park with swings and fountain in it.

Last week, I have noticed some litter near the chairs and on the walkway. There were packets of chips, cans and some other food packages on the floor. Also, people were giving on the attention to that and ignore all the garbage, which makes the park polluted.

I have the humble request to the authority to make some strong rules for this problem as soon as possible. I would really appreciate if the authority places garbage bins in the park to make park neat and clean in the future.

I hope you will get back to me early. I look forward to hear from you about this problem.

Your sincerely,

Smith

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response: Band 5.5

You address all three points: you explain that you walk in the evening to enjoy the scenery and reduce stress, describe food packets and cans near the chairs and walkway, and suggest rules and more bins. These details make the letter relevant and give the reader a clear sense of the problem. However, some ideas remain under-developed: the location is described as trails, a lake, and a small park without clearly explaining how these places relate, and the proposed rules are not specified. The purpose is clear, but the closing request for a reply is less useful than explaining what action you want the newspaper or local authority to take. Develop the suggestions with one or two practical details.

Coherence and Cohesion: Band 5.5

The letter has a recognisable structure, moving from the reason for writing to your enjoyment of walking, the litter problem, and possible solutions. Paragraph breaks help separate these main points, and words such as “Last week” and “Also” guide the reader through the account. However, progression is not always smooth: “There is a small park with swings and fountain in it” stands alone and its connection to the trails and lake is unclear. Some links are also awkward or repetitive, particularly the repeated references to “the park” and “the authority.” Use clearer transitions and connect the park description directly to where you observed the litter. A more purposeful closing would also make the letter feel more complete.

Lexical Resource: Band 5.5

You use enough vocabulary to communicate the main ideas, including “scenic views,” “litter,” “walkway,” and “garbage bins.” The language is generally understandable, but several word choices and collocations are noticeably unnatural, which limits precision. For example, “fresh my mind” does not express the intended idea naturally, and “people were giving on the attention” is difficult to interpret. “People in my areas polluting the walkway” is also an awkward way to describe the problem. Aim for familiar, accurate phrases rather than translating expressions directly. More precise wording for the litter and the actions walkers should take would make the complaint clearer and more persuasive.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy: Band 5.5

You attempt both simple and more extended sentences, and the reader can usually follow your meaning. However, errors in agreement, tense, articles, and verb patterns occur often enough to make some sentences awkward. For example, “someone who enjoy” needs subject–verb agreement, while “From the long time, I walk” has an inaccurate time expression and verb form. In “Last week, I have noticed,” the past-time reference calls for a consistent past tense. The sentence beginning “Also, people were giving…” is structurally unclear, and “I look forward to hear” uses the wrong verb pattern. Practise checking each sentence for a clear subject and verb, and review tense consistency and infinitive/gerund patterns.

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

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