Band 6.0 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 6.0 · Cambridge IELTS 13 · 2026-07-31

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 6.0)

Dear Sir,

I am writing this letter to you about the gathering of garbage which is not working accurately due to some reasons. The main one one is that it is not collected at the accurate time as to why bins are filled as it creates mess around the areas.

It puts impacts such as messy area and it gives a sense of poor living lifestyle. People victim of flues and other allergies which put impact on immune system especially on kids. It shows our local area very ugly.

As per my thinking there are number of things which can be done to mitigate this problem. As checking of their work properly. Apart from this, warning of penality can be given to them. Rubbish collectors should be changed in this local area. I hope you will definitely pay attention to this problem.

Thank you with regards,

Sani.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 6.0

The letter addresses all three bullet points required by the prompt: describing the issue, explaining the impact, and suggesting solutions. However, the response is slightly under the 150-word minimum, which limits the depth of development. The ideas are relevant but remain somewhat superficial; for instance, the suggestion to 'change the rubbish collectors' is a bit vague. To reach a higher band, you should expand on your points with more specific details or examples, such as mentioning how long the delay has been or the specific types of health risks involved. The tone is generally appropriate for a formal letter to a council.

Coherence and Cohesion — Band 6.5

The letter is organised into three distinct paragraphs, which helps the reader follow the structure. However, the use of cohesive devices is quite limited and sometimes mechanical. Phrases like 'The main one one is that' and 'As per my thinking' are slightly unnatural or repetitive. The logical progression between sentences could be improved by using a wider variety of linking words (e.g., 'consequently', 'furthermore', 'in addition to this'). While the overall message is clear, the flow between ideas feels a bit disjointed due to the lack of sophisticated transitions.

Lexical Resource — Band 6.0

The vocabulary is adequate for the task but lacks the precision and variety expected at higher levels. You rely on basic terms like 'mess', 'ugly', and 'things'. There are also some awkward collocations, such as 'gathering of garbage' instead of 'rubbish collection' and 'victim of flues' instead of 'suffering from respiratory issues'. To improve, try to incorporate more topic-specific vocabulary related to municipal services and environmental health. While the meaning is generally clear, the limited range of vocabulary prevents a higher score.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 6.0

The response contains a mix of simple and complex sentence structures, but there are frequent grammatical errors that occasionally hinder the flow. Examples include 'The main one one is that' (repetition), 'it gives a sense of poor living lifestyle' (awkward phrasing), and 'People victim of flues' (missing verb). Punctuation is generally functional, but the sentence construction often feels clunky. To improve, focus on subject-verb agreement and ensuring that your complex sentences are grammatically sound. Reducing these frequent errors will significantly improve the readability of your writing.

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