Band 5.5 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 5.5 · Cambridge IELTS 13 · 2026-11-11

IELTS Writing Task 1 question

The system used for rubbish/garbage collection in your local area is not working properly. This is causing problems for you and your neighbours. Write a letter to the local council. In your letter

• describe how the rubbish collection system is not working properly
• explain how this is affecting you and your neighbours
• suggest what should 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,

My name is Minakshi,I live in your community from last 5 years . I am writing my express here regarding the waste thrown in the society .

As everybody know that we dont have a specefic place or public garbage bin to throw the daily trash . so people just throw every garbage openly behind the park where empty space for no usage.

This thing not affecting the beauty of the park and society also causes many health and environmetal issues , that may lead to serious problem later. As people getting always smell while walking from there . So , i Kindly request to the higher authorities to look this issue and take appropriate actions as soon as possible. for better trashes authorities can strict people to not throw garbage at open places and use there own garbage bin , and weekly garbage trucks can pick from everyhouses.So by doing that we can make our environment more safe and beautiful.

Your Regards,

Minakshi.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response: Band 6.0

You address all three points: you explain that there is no designated bin or collection point, describe rubbish being left behind the park, and mention the smell and possible health and environmental effects. You also suggest stricter rules and weekly truck collections. These details make the letter relevant and give the council a clear sense of the problem. However, some parts are less fully developed: for example, the effects on neighbours are mostly implied rather than described specifically, and the proposed collection plan could explain how residents would use it. A more formal, direct request—such as asking the council to install bins and confirm a collection schedule—would make the purpose and requested action clearer.

Coherence and Cohesion: Band 6.0

The letter follows a generally understandable order: you introduce the issue, describe its effects, and then suggest action. This gives the reader a coherent overall progression. The paragraph breaks also help separate the main stages of the message. However, some links are mechanical or unclear, particularly “This thing not affecting the beauty … also causes” and “So by doing that,” where the relationship between ideas is not expressed smoothly. The long middle section combines several points, making the request and its supporting reasons harder to follow. Use clearer transitions such as “As a result” and “I therefore ask the council to,” and give the problem, its impact, and the requested measures distinct, focused paragraphs.

Lexical Resource: Band 5.0

You use enough topic-related vocabulary to communicate the central issue, including “daily trash,” “garbage bin,” “health,” “environmental,” and “garbage trucks.” There are also attempts at more formal language, such as “appropriate actions” and “higher authorities.” However, several inaccurate or unnatural choices reduce precision: “waste thrown in the society,” “for better trashes,” and “people getting always smell” do not express the intended meanings naturally. Spelling errors such as “specefic” and “environmetal” are also noticeable. Build a more accurate set of collocations for this topic—for example, “designated collection point,” “uncollected rubbish,” and “unpleasant odour”—and check spelling and word forms before submitting.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy: Band 5.0

You attempt both simple statements and longer sentences, including a sentence explaining that the rubbish problem may lead to later consequences. The main message is generally understandable, but some grammatical errors make parts of the letter awkward or unclear. For example, “I live in your community from last 5 years” needs a present-perfect form, while “This thing not affecting” is missing an auxiliary verb. The sentence beginning “As people getting always smell” also has an incomplete verb structure, and “weekly garbage trucks can pick from everyhouses” lacks a clear object and has an incorrect plural form. Review tense and auxiliary use, subject–verb structure, articles, and sentence boundaries. Shorter, carefully checked sentences would improve accuracy while you continue practising complex forms.

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