Band 7.5 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 7.5 · Cambridge IELTS 13 · 2026-07-23

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 7.5)

Dear Sir or Madam,

I am writing to draw your attention to problems we are facing in your area regarding a garbage issue.

Although the government started a new system for waste collection, it is not working properly. For example, the timing of the rubbish collection van is inappropriate or without a schedule. It comes twice a week, instead of daily. Therefore, society members finds difficulty to manage garbage.

This system affects us and our neighbours in various ways. Firstly, it is difficult to manage and keep rubbish for a long time at home due to the inadequate timing of the van. Secondly, it increases the number of mosquitoes. Consequently, it increases health concerns such as malaria and dengue.

There are certain measures that should be taken to improve the system. For instance, instead of twice a week, the garbage collection van should come on a daily basis so it helps individuals to get rid of the waste. Additionally, there should be two different collection bags for dry and wet garbage, which will not affect human health by mixing them in one bag.

Looking forward to your response.

Kind regards,

Hardik

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 8.0

The letter successfully addresses all three bullet points of the prompt. You clearly describe the issues with the collection schedule, explain the negative impact on health and hygiene, and provide logical suggestions for improvement. The tone is appropriate for a formal letter to a local council. To reach a higher band, you could expand slightly on the 'problems' mentioned in the introduction to provide more context, but overall, the response is well-developed and fully satisfies the requirements of the task.

Coherence and Cohesion — Band 8.0

The letter is logically organized with a clear introduction, body paragraphs for each point, and a formal closing. You use cohesive devices such as 'Although', 'For example', 'Therefore', 'Firstly', 'Secondly', and 'Consequently' to link ideas effectively. The paragraphing is appropriate, with each paragraph focusing on a specific aspect of the task. The progression of ideas is smooth and easy to follow, making the letter coherent throughout.

Lexical Resource — Band 7.0

You demonstrate a sufficient range of vocabulary to convey your message clearly. Phrases like 'draw your attention to', 'inadequate timing', and 'health concerns' are used appropriately. There are some minor word-choice issues, such as 'society members' (which sounds slightly unnatural in this context; 'residents' would be better) and 'garbage issue' (which is a bit vague). However, the vocabulary is generally precise enough to communicate your points without difficulty.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 7.0

You use a mix of simple and complex sentence structures. While there are some grammatical slips, such as 'society members finds' (subject-verb agreement error) and 'so it helps individuals to get rid of' (which could be more naturally phrased), these errors do not impede communication. The punctuation is generally accurate, and the sentence structures are varied enough to maintain interest. Focusing on subject-verb agreement and refining complex sentence construction will help improve your score in this area.

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