Band 7.5 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 7.5 · Cambridge IELTS 13 · 2026-07-29

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 complain regarding the malfunction in rubbish and garbage collector in the Homeland located in Chandigarh.

Last week, while throwing the garbage in the collection bin, I noticed that the red light on the panel was blinking with the warning sign on the top. By the evening we got the notifications on the application regarding the system error n the machine.

Unfortunately, it is affecting the whole society as trash from the last five days was not collected and it is scattered on the side of the trash room which will lead to some disease in future and the rotten smell is all around the locality which is affecting daily activities of the individuals living nearby.

To mitigate this problem, garbage lying near the trash room should be picked and disposed outside. Besides this, the automatic system should be upgraded and the problem should be solved as soon as possible. On the top of that room should be cleaned with disinfectant.

I hope you will take immediate action upon receiving my letter.

Yours faithfully,

Narveer Kaur

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 7.5

The letter addresses all three bullet points of the prompt effectively. You clearly describe the technical malfunction, explain the negative impact on the community (health risks and smell), and provide actionable suggestions for the council. The tone is appropriate for a formal letter to a local authority. To reach a higher band, you could expand slightly on the 'impact' section by describing the specific daily activities affected, which would demonstrate a more thorough development of ideas. Overall, the response is well-focused and meets all requirements of the task.

Coherence and Cohesion — Band 7.5

The letter follows a logical structure with clear paragraphing. Each paragraph has a distinct focus, which helps the reader follow your argument. You use some cohesive devices such as 'Unfortunately', 'To mitigate this problem', and 'Besides this' to link your ideas. However, the flow could be improved by using a wider variety of linking words and ensuring that transitions between sentences are smoother. For instance, the transition between the description of the problem and the impact could be more fluid. Overall, the organisation is clear and easy to follow.

Lexical Resource — Band 7.0

You demonstrate a sufficient range of vocabulary to convey your message clearly. Phrases like 'malfunction', 'mitigate this problem', and 'disinfectant' are used appropriately. There are some minor inaccuracies, such as 'rubbish and garbage collector' (which sounds like a person rather than a system) and 'disposed outside' (which is slightly vague). While the vocabulary is adequate for the task, incorporating more precise collocations or less common lexical items would elevate the score. The spelling is generally accurate throughout the text.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 7.0

You use a mix of simple and complex sentence structures. There are some grammatical slips, such as 'trash from the last five days was not collected' (should be 'has not been collected' to reflect the ongoing nature of the problem) and 'On the top of that room should be cleaned' (which is syntactically awkward). Despite these errors, your meaning is always clear, and the mistakes do not impede communication. To improve, focus on consistent verb tense usage and refining the structure of your complex sentences.

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