Band 5.5 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 5.5 · 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 5.5)

Dear sir/madam

I am writing to report some issue we encounter with the system that your company follows to collect garbage in our area.

There are only three rubbish cans for each two buildings, and they are filled too quickly above their limits. As a consequence, people dispose of their garbage on the ground or on top of the cans, and the rubbish keeps piling up for three days until being emptied by one of your trucks.

This causes a lot of discomfort and inconvenience for us. The waste stays on the ground after collection, creating revolting smells, and causing insects such as flies and mosquitos to gather around the cans, forcing us to close all of our windows.

I suggest that you add enough cans and have them emptied every two days. Alao, I kindly request that the area around the cans be regularly cleaned with water. I hope you take steps to address these issues at your earliest convenience,

Yours faithfully,

Humaira Mukta.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 5.5

The letter successfully addresses all three bullet points required by the prompt. You clearly describe the inadequacy of the current rubbish collection system, explain the negative impact on residents, and provide logical suggestions for improvement. The tone is appropriate for a formal letter to a local council. To reach a higher band, you could expand slightly on the consequences of the issue, perhaps by mentioning the health risks to children or the impact on the local environment, which would further develop your ideas and demonstrate a more sophisticated approach to the task.

Coherence and Cohesion — Band 5.5

The letter is well-organized with a clear logical progression. Each paragraph focuses on a specific aspect of the prompt, which makes the information easy to follow. You use cohesive devices such as 'As a consequence' and 'This causes' to link your ideas effectively. The paragraphing is appropriate for a formal letter. To improve, ensure that transitions between sentences are varied; while your current usage is clear, incorporating a wider range of cohesive markers would enhance the flow and make the text feel more cohesive and professional.

Lexical Resource — Band 5.5

You demonstrate a sufficient range of vocabulary to communicate your points clearly. Phrases like 'discomfort and inconvenience' and 'revolting smells' are well-chosen and appropriate for the context. There are some minor issues, such as 'report some issue' (should be 'report some issues' or 'an issue') and the typo 'Alao' instead of 'Also'. While the vocabulary is adequate for the task, incorporating more precise or academic collocations would elevate your writing. Overall, the language used is natural and conveys your message without any difficulty for the reader.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 5.5

You use a mix of simple and complex sentence structures effectively. Most of your sentences are clear and grammatically sound. However, there are a few minor errors, such as 'three rubbish cans for each two buildings' (which should be 'for every two buildings') and the missing article in 'report some issue'. Punctuation is generally good, though ensure you use a comma after 'Dear Sir/Madam' rather than a slash. The errors present are non-systematic and do not impede communication, which is consistent with a solid band 6.5 or 7.0 performance.

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

Browse more IELTS Writing model answers or get your own writing scored by the same AI examiner.