Band 5.5 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 5.5 · Cambridge IELTS 21 · 2026-10-27

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/Madam,

I am Tinkal Patel, a resident of Navsari. I am writing this to express my disgust with the litter left by walkers at the countryside area near my home.

Firstly, I would like to mention that there is a beautiful lake alongside my home near Abhishek Society which is in the outskirts of Navsari. I walk there every morning but I have noticed that there is a severe litter on the site. Major litter is left by other walkers. There is a plastic disposables glasses, dishes, water bottles and many more things. Now, the beautiful site has become a filthy unplesant site to watch.

Lastly, I would like to give my suggestions to improve the situation. I would like to suggest that if the local news paper authority could give a brife about the situation in the newspaper then many people could avoid throwing litter to the site.

Kindly consider this matter. I look forward to your prompt response.

Yours sincerely,

Tinkal Patel.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response: Band 5.0

You address the main situation and include relevant details: you explain that you walk by a lake near Abhishek Society, describe discarded cups, dishes and bottles, and suggest that the newspaper publicise the problem. However, the task is only partially developed. The reason you enjoy walking is not clearly explained beyond calling the lake beautiful, and the proposed action is limited to a brief newspaper notice, without explaining how this might change walkers’ behaviour or offering another practical measure. The purpose is clear in the opening, but the letter could make its request more explicit—for example, asking the newspaper to publish an appeal to visitors or to support local clean-up efforts.

Coherence and Cohesion: Band 5.5

The letter has a recognisable structure, with an opening, paragraphs about the location and litter, a suggestion, and a closing. Sequencing words such as “Firstly” and “Lastly” help signal the stages of your message. However, the progression is somewhat mechanical, and the second paragraph combines the walking location, the litter problem and its effect without clearly separating these points. “Major litter is left by other walkers” also repeats information already given. Use clearer links to show cause and effect, and organise each paragraph around one purpose: why the walk is enjoyable, what litter is present and how it affects the area, then what action you want the newspaper to take.

Lexical Resource: Band 5.5

You use relevant vocabulary for the topic, including “litter,” “walkers,” “plastic,” and “filthy,” so the reader can understand the problem. There are also attempts at more descriptive language, such as “beautiful lake” and “disgust.” However, several word choices and collocations are inaccurate or awkward, including “a severe litter,” “plastic disposables glasses,” and “a brife about the situation.” Spelling errors such as “unplesant” and “newspaper” written as “news paper” also reduce control. Aim for precise, natural phrases—for example, “a large amount of litter,” “disposable plastic cups,” and “publish a short report”—and check spelling before submitting.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy: Band 5.5

Your message is generally understandable, and you use both simple statements and a longer conditional suggestion: “if the local news paper authority could give a brife … then many people could avoid…” This shows an attempt to vary sentence structure. However, control is uneven, particularly with articles, plurals and sentence construction. In “There is a plastic disposables glasses,” the singular opening conflicts with the plural noun; “there is a severe litter” also uses an unsuitable count structure. The sentence beginning “I would like to suggest that if…” is awkwardly formed and would be clearer as “I suggest that the newspaper publish a short report…” Practise checking agreement and article use, and build complex sentences with a clear main clause.

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