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 this letter to let you know about irregularity of current garbage system in our area.

As I am leaving in the East area of town, the rubbish collection truck usually come on Monday morning in between 8-9 AM . Unfortunately, we are facing trouble for picking up our trash since last 2 months. There is no fix time for truck to come and pick up garbage.

As a result, our garbage stay out for long time. Sometimes we have to wait until Wednesday as well. As a result there are higher chances to spread out trash in our neighborhood , leading to severe and fatal health problems in local people.

According to me, you should take some actions to maintain fix schedule for picking up our household garbage. Also, there should be certain methods required in order to stop and prevent some health problems.

I hope that you will be taking some important steps to mitigate this issue.

Your Respectfully,

Shivam

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 6.5

The letter addresses all three bullet points of the prompt: describing the irregular collection, explaining the impact on the neighborhood, and suggesting solutions. The tone is appropriate for a formal letter to a council. However, the development of ideas is somewhat limited. For instance, the suggestion to 'stop and prevent some health problems' is vague and lacks specific detail. To reach a higher band, you should provide more concrete suggestions, such as requesting a specific collection day or asking for additional bins. The purpose of the letter is clear, and the reader is fully informed of the situation.

Coherence and Cohesion — Band 6.5

The letter is logically organized into paragraphs, with each section addressing a specific part of the prompt. You use some cohesive devices, such as 'As a result' and 'Also', to link ideas. However, the transition between sentences is sometimes repetitive, particularly the use of 'As a result' twice in the same paragraph. The paragraphing is appropriate for a formal letter, and the progression of ideas is easy to follow. To improve, try to vary your linking words and ensure that the flow between sentences feels more natural rather than mechanical.

Lexical Resource — Band 6.0

The vocabulary is generally adequate for the task, allowing you to convey your message clearly. You use some relevant terms like 'irregularity', 'mitigate', and 'neighborhood'. However, there are some inaccuracies in word choice and collocation, such as 'leaving in the East area' (should be 'living') and 'maintain fix schedule' (should be 'maintain a fixed schedule'). There is also a slight misuse of 'fatal health problems', which is an overstatement in this context. Expanding your range of vocabulary and focusing on correct collocations would help elevate your score.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 6.0

You demonstrate a mix of simple and complex sentence structures. While the meaning is generally clear, there are several grammatical errors throughout the text. Examples include 'truck usually come' (subject-verb agreement), 'no fix time' (should be 'fixed'), and 'our garbage stay out' (subject-verb agreement). Additionally, the closing 'Your Respectfully' is incorrect; it should be 'Yours respectfully'. While these errors do not impede communication, they occur frequently enough to prevent a higher score. Focusing on subject-verb agreement and consistent use of articles will significantly improve your accuracy.

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.