Band 7.5 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 7.5 · 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 7.5)

Dear Sir or Madam,

I am writing to bring to your notice our plight, for over 3 months we have had to treat various diseases as a result of the heap of rubbish right in front of our street, the Gray Street. It all started 3 months ago, we noticed that the waste collection company which comes frequently to dispose off our waste suddenly stopped. We complained and they came only once and since then they have stopped coming. The system is not functioning as it used to when it was first inaugurated.

This situation has affected the inhabitants of this street in so many ways, as I mentioned earlier on, we almost cannot sleep in our homes anymore. It has been one ailment for us, the kids or the other. Furthermore, flies and various insects are now our neighbours, the air is polluted and we can barely breathe. This situation really calls for urgent solution.

I am suggesting that the contract and license of the company currently handling the disposal if these waste be revoked, and be given to a company that can do the job.

I look forward to receiving your prompt response.

Yours sincerely,

Godson Frederick

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 7.5

You have successfully addressed all three bullet points in the prompt. You clearly described the failure of the rubbish collection system, explained the negative impact on the residents' health and living conditions, and provided a specific suggestion for the council to resolve the issue. The tone is appropriate for a formal letter to a local authority. The ideas are relevant and well-developed, providing enough detail to satisfy the requirements of the task. To reach a higher band, you could expand slightly on the specific nature of the 'diseases' or the 'inaugurated' system to add more depth to your argument.

Coherence and Cohesion — Band 7.5

The letter is logically organized with a clear introduction, body paragraphs, and a formal closing. You use some cohesive devices such as 'Furthermore' and 'as I mentioned earlier on' to link your ideas. However, the flow between sentences could be smoother. For example, the transition between the description of the problem and the impact could be improved with more varied linking words. Paragraphing is used correctly to separate the different stages of your argument, which helps the reader follow your points easily. Overall, the progression of ideas is clear and easy to follow.

Lexical Resource — Band 7.0

You demonstrate a sufficient range of vocabulary to communicate your message effectively. Phrases like 'bring to your notice our plight' and 'urgent solution' are well-chosen for a formal letter. There are some minor inaccuracies, such as 'dispose off' (should be 'dispose of') and 'if these waste' (should be 'of this waste'). While you use some less common vocabulary, there is room to incorporate more precise collocations to enhance the sophistication of your writing. The vocabulary used is adequate for the task and does not impede communication.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 7.0

You use a mix of simple and complex sentence structures. While the meaning is always clear, there are some grammatical slips, such as the comma splice in the first paragraph ('...Gray Street. It all started...') and the subject-verb agreement issue in 'the contract and license... be revoked, and be given'. Punctuation is generally functional, though some sentences could be better structured to avoid run-on effects. Despite these errors, the grammar does not prevent the reader from understanding your points, and you show a good attempt at using complex sentence forms.

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