Band 6.5 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 6.5 · Cambridge IELTS 21 · 2026-10-29

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 6.5)

Dear Sir or Madam,

I am writing this letter to address about the increasing amoount of litter I am seeing in the country side area near my home.

I enjoy going for walk daily as it relaxes me after work and keeps me active and fit. I usually go at springbank trail near Thames river as it is very peaceful and quiet. The flowers and fresh air adds to its beauty.

It was a very clean trail but since last few weeks I am noticing that people are leaving their food wrappers, cans, bottles and plastic bags everywhere on trail. Moreover, I have also seen some plastic bags hanging on tress at riverside. I feel it is deteriorating the beauty of trail and Thames river both.

It would be great if garbage signs can be installed on riverside so that people can start throwing their garbage accordingly. Further, I would appreciate if local newspaper can publish about this issue so that society becomes aware about and stops it from spreading.

Thank you in advance for putting your valuable time in mitigating this problem with me.

Yours truly,

Manpreet

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response: Band 7.0

The letter addresses all three points clearly: you explain that walking helps you relax and stay fit, identify Springbank Trail near the Thames, describe wrappers, cans, bottles and bags, and suggest signs and newspaper coverage. The purpose is clear from the opening, and the details about bags hanging in trees help show the effect on the riverside. Your suggestions are relevant, although they could be developed further—for example, you might propose bins, regular clean-ups or enforcement alongside signs. The request for the newspaper to raise awareness is appropriate, but explaining how this could change walkers’ behaviour would make the solution more fully supported. Overall, the response maintains a clear focus and gives a complete, relevant answer.

Coherence and Cohesion: Band 7.0

The letter is organised in a clear sequence: purpose, enjoyment of walking, the litter problem, and possible solutions. Separate paragraphs make each part easy to follow, and linking expressions such as “Moreover” and “Further” help connect related points. The progression from describing the trail to explaining its deterioration is particularly clear. To make the cohesion more natural, avoid relying on formulaic transitions and improve a few references: “it” in “I feel it is deteriorating” could refer more explicitly to the litter, while “stops it from spreading” is not fully clear. A more direct link between the proposed signs and the behaviour you want walkers to change would also strengthen the final paragraph.

Lexical Resource: Band 6.0

You use an adequate range of vocabulary for the topic, including specific items such as “food wrappers,” “riverside,” and “deteriorating,” which make the problem easy to picture. There are also useful phrases such as “keeps me active and fit” and “fresh air.” However, some word choices and collocations are inaccurate or awkward: “address about” should be “address,” “go at springbank trail” is unnatural, and “throwing their garbage accordingly” does not clearly express the intended action. Spelling errors such as “amoount” and “tress” also reduce accuracy. Aim for more natural combinations and check spelling carefully; this would make your vocabulary more precise and fluent.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy: Band 6.0

You use a mix of simple and more complex sentence forms, including a reason clause in “as it relaxes me” and a conditional suggestion beginning “It would be great if…”. Most meaning remains clear, but some grammatical errors occur. For example, “The flowers and fresh air adds” has a plural subject and needs “add”; “since last few weeks I am noticing” needs a more suitable tense and article, such as “for the last few weeks, I have noticed”; and “on trail” needs an article. The sentence about the newspaper also has an unclear construction: “I would appreciate if local newspaper can publish” would be more accurate as “I would appreciate it if the local newspaper could publish…”. Review agreement, articles and tense choices while retaining your varied sentence patterns.

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

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