Band 7.5 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 7.5 · Cambridge IELTS 13 · 2026-08-07

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 express my dissatisfaction regarding the current system for rubbish collection in my area. I live on Hardwick Drive in Brampton. According to the local council's schedule, garbage collection trucks are supposed to collect household waste every Wednesday. Unfortunately, they collect it only once a month.

The garbage creates an unpleasant smell that is difficult to bear. Moreover, it is challenging to deal with houseflies and mosquitoes especially during the rainy season. It is unhealthy when a lot of garbage bags especially food waste remained piled up at one place for long time.

I would appreciate it if you could assign more staff to our area, and introduce stricter regulations to collect household waste at least once in every seven days. Please let me know how I can help you to speed up this process at your earliest convenience.

Thank you for your time, and I look forward to hearing from you soon.

Yours sincerely,

Reena

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 8.0

The letter successfully addresses all three bullet points of the prompt. You clearly describe the failure of the collection system (once a month instead of weekly), explain the negative impact on your living environment (smells and pests), and provide a concrete suggestion for improvement (more staff and stricter regulations). The tone is appropriate for a formal letter to a local council, and the purpose is clear from the outset. The ideas are well-developed and relevant, fulfilling the requirements of the task effectively.

Coherence and Cohesion — Band 8.0

The letter is well-organized with a logical progression of ideas. Each paragraph focuses on a specific aspect of the prompt, which aids readability. You use cohesive devices such as 'Moreover' and 'Unfortunately' to link your points effectively. The opening and closing salutations are appropriate for the context. The flow of information is smooth, and the paragraphing is used appropriately to separate the problem description from the proposed solution, ensuring the reader can follow your argument without difficulty.

Lexical Resource — Band 7.0

You demonstrate a sufficient range of vocabulary to convey your message with precision. Phrases like 'express my dissatisfaction', 'unpleasant smell', and 'at your earliest convenience' are well-suited to the formal tone of the letter. While the vocabulary is functional and accurate, it is generally standard. To reach a higher band, you could incorporate slightly more sophisticated collocations or less common lexical items related to waste management or civic issues, but the current range is more than adequate for the task.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 7.0

The letter displays a good mix of simple and complex sentence structures. Most sentences are error-free, and your control of grammar is generally strong. There is a minor tense error in the second paragraph: 'remained piled up' should be 'remain piled up' to match the present tense context. Additionally, 'at one place' would be more natural as 'in one place'. Despite these minor slips, your punctuation and sentence construction are accurate and do not impede communication at all.

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

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