Band 6.5 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 6.5 · Cambridge IELTS 13 · 2026-08-06

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 6.5)

Dear Sir or Madam,

I am writing to complain about the recent system that is used for rubbish collection in my area. I am resident of mona belle crescent in Brampton where new system is recently launched for an automatic pick-up on Mondays.

Unfortunately, the new method has missed garbage multiple times from last few weeks, which has caused significant inconvenience for me and my neighbors. Staying garbage on the road for a long week, not only does it raise safety concern, but it also effect the beauty of my area.

I would humble request to look at this matter at your earliest convenience, and take possible measures to deal with this situation. If there is a second driver provided that can check if machine is picking up the garbage properly that would be appreciated.

I extend my sincere appreciation for your consideration and I anticipate your valued response at your earliest convenience.

Yours sincerely,

Sukhpreet Kour

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 6.5

You have addressed all three bullet points required by the task: describing the problem, explaining the impact, and suggesting a solution. The tone is appropriate for a formal letter to a council. However, the development of ideas is somewhat limited. For instance, while you mention the impact on safety and aesthetics, these points could be expanded with more specific details to fully meet the criteria for a higher band. The letter is clear and the purpose is established immediately, which is a strength.

Coherence and Cohesion — Band 6.5

The letter follows a logical structure with a clear opening and closing. Paragraphing is used to separate the introduction, the body of the complaint, and the proposed solution. However, the use of cohesive devices is somewhat basic. Transitions between sentences could be smoother; for example, the connection between the problem and the impact could be improved with more sophisticated linking words. Referencing is generally clear, but the flow between ideas feels slightly mechanical at times.

Lexical Resource — Band 6.0

You demonstrate an adequate range of vocabulary for the task, using terms like 'significant inconvenience' and 'sincere appreciation'. However, there are some inaccuracies in word choice and collocation, such as 'Staying garbage' (should be 'Leftover garbage' or 'Accumulated rubbish') and 'effect the beauty' (should be 'affect the appearance'). These errors do not impede communication, but they indicate a need for more precise control over word forms and collocations to reach a higher band.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 6.0

You use a mix of simple and complex sentence structures, such as the conditional sentence in the third paragraph. However, there are several grammatical errors, including article usage ('the new system', 'the road'), preposition errors ('from last few weeks' should be 'over the last few weeks'), and subject-verb agreement issues ('garbage... effect the beauty'). While these errors are noticeable, they do not prevent the reader from understanding your message. Increasing the frequency of error-free complex sentences will help improve this score.

See this exact question answered at other band scores — the same prompt compared across bands.

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