Band 5.5 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 5.5 · Cambridge IELTS 21 · 2026-10-26

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 to express my growing concern regarding thr increasing amount of litter in the countryside areas near our town, specifically along the walking trails of oakridge forest.

As a resident who walks these trails daily, I find immense value in the outings. i spend my time over their daily after my daily work for relax myself. However, I saw there number of trash such as, plastic bottles, cans, plastic bags and many more items , it effects on the their beauty .

I would like to reccommend some ways to mitigate this issue. Firstly , local council should put some bins on the trail path. Secondly, make signs people can not litter over their.

please publish my letter on the newspaper therefore people halt doing these things by reading this letter

yours faithfully,

chandan

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response: Band 5.5

You address all three bullet points: you explain that you walk daily on the trails in Oakridge Forest, list litter such as bottles, cans and bags, and suggest bins and signs. However, the reasons you enjoy walking are only briefly indicated, and the proposed measures need more explanation—for example, where bins should be placed or how signs might discourage littering. The request to publish the letter is relevant, but the purpose and audience could be made clearer with a more complete closing. The response is also 12 words below the required minimum, so there is limited space to develop these ideas. Add specific details about the countryside’s appeal and expand the practical suggestions.

Coherence and Cohesion: Band 6.5

The letter has a generally clear sequence: concern, personal experience and examples, proposed solutions, then a request to the newspaper. The use of “Firstly” and “Secondly” helps signal the two suggestions, and the paragraphs broadly separate the main functions of the letter. This coherent overall arrangement is a strength. However, some links are awkward or unclear, particularly “please publish my letter on the newspaper therefore people halt doing these things,” where the relationship between publication and the intended result is difficult to follow. The second paragraph also moves quickly from enjoyment to litter. To strengthen progression, use clearer transitions and give each paragraph a more focused purpose, while making references such as “these things” explicit.

Lexical Resource: Band 5.5

You use relevant vocabulary for the topic, including “litter,” “walking trails,” “plastic bottles,” “cans,” and “mitigate this issue.” These choices make the subject clear, and “growing concern” is an appropriate phrase for a letter to a newspaper. However, the range is limited and several word choices or collocations are inaccurate, such as “countryside areas,” “there number of trash,” and “it effects on the their beauty.” Spelling errors in “thr” and “reccommend” also reduce accuracy. Aim for more natural combinations and precise wording, such as “the amount of litter,” “a range of rubbish,” and “spoils the natural beauty.” Proofreading for spelling and repeated or unnecessary words will improve control.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy: Band 5.0

The response communicates its main points using mostly simple sentence patterns, with a few attempts to connect ideas, such as “However” and “Firstly.” However, grammatical errors are frequent and sometimes make the reader work to understand the message. Examples include “i spend my time over their daily,” “I saw there number of trash,” and “local council should put some bins,” which show problems with sentence construction, verb forms, articles and agreement. The final request also lacks a clear grammatical connection between publishing the letter and changing behaviour. Practise accurate simple sentences first, then add controlled complex forms using “because,” “so that” or “which.” Check capitalisation, articles, pronouns and punctuation when editing.

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

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