Band 5.5 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 5.5 · Cambridge IELTS 13 · 2026-07-27

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,

I am writing this letter to complain about the rubbish collection system, which has not been working properly for the last four to five months. Therefore, it is a problem for every individual living next to my home.

There is no one here to collect the litter and empty the bins on time due to this; create the missive garbage on the roadside. Because of this reason, many health problem is roising in our locality day by day .

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 5.5

The response fails to meet the minimum word count requirement of 150 words, as it is only 83 words long. Consequently, the ideas are significantly underdeveloped. While you have identified the problem and mentioned the impact on health, you have not provided a clear suggestion for what should be done about the problem, which is a key requirement of the prompt. To improve, you must expand on each bullet point with specific details and ensure you reach the required length to fully develop your arguments and suggestions.

Coherence and Cohesion — Band 5.5

The letter is very brief, making it difficult to establish a clear logical progression. While there is a basic attempt at paragraphing, the transition between the problem description and the impact is abrupt. The use of cohesive devices is limited; for example, 'Therefore' is used, but the overall flow is hindered by the lack of supporting sentences. To improve, you should use a wider range of linking words (e.g., 'consequently', 'furthermore', 'in addition') to connect your ideas more smoothly and ensure each paragraph has a clear focus.

Lexical Resource — Band 5.5

The vocabulary is quite basic and repetitive. Phrases like 'not working properly' and 'many health problem' are functional but lack the precision expected at higher bands. There are also errors in word choice, such as 'missive garbage' (likely meant 'massive') and 'roising' (likely meant 'rising'). To achieve a higher score, you should aim to use more specific vocabulary related to waste management and community issues, and ensure that your word forms are accurate.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 5.5

The response contains several grammatical errors that occasionally impede clarity, such as 'many health problem is roising' (subject-verb agreement and spelling). The sentence structures are mostly simple, with limited attempts at complex sentences. Punctuation is also inconsistent, particularly with spacing and comma usage. To improve, focus on mastering subject-verb agreement, pluralization, and sentence variety. Incorporating more complex structures, such as relative clauses or conditional sentences, would also help demonstrate a wider grammatical range.

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