Band 5.0 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 5.0 · Cambridge IELTS 13 · 2026-08-08

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 5.0)

Dear sir,

i am writing this letter regarding the grave issue related to improper garbage coolection.

i am living in well developed area of ahmedabad city. which is great metropolitan with densing population. the problem started from week ago. there are two enormous rubbish containers are put in our main road, but there are no one who come and empty that bags since one week.

due to that, many people dump their wastage in nearby areas not in correct bag. it is very sting in addition many insects grow there and become more serious day by day.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 4.0

The response fails to meet the minimum word count requirement of 150 words, reaching only 97 words. Consequently, the task is only partially addressed. While you have identified the problem and mentioned the impact on the neighborhood, the third bullet point regarding suggestions for what should be done is entirely missing. To improve, you must ensure all parts of the prompt are covered in detail and that you meet the length requirement to allow for full development of your ideas. The tone is appropriate for a formal letter, but the lack of content significantly limits the score.

Coherence and Cohesion — Band 5.0

The letter lacks a clear structure. There is no proper paragraphing to separate the introduction, the body points, and the conclusion. While there is a basic attempt to sequence ideas, the lack of cohesive devices makes the flow feel disjointed. For example, the transition between describing the location and the problem is abrupt. To improve, use linking words such as 'furthermore', 'consequently', or 'in addition' to connect your sentences and organize your response into distinct paragraphs for each bullet point in the task instructions.

Lexical Resource — Band 5.0

The vocabulary is somewhat limited and contains several errors in word choice and collocation. For instance, 'densing population' is incorrect; 'dense population' or 'densely populated area' would be more accurate. 'It is very sting' is also incorrect; 'it smells foul' or 'it is malodorous' would be better. You have attempted to use some descriptive language, but the range is insufficient to convey your message with precision. Focus on learning common collocations related to environmental issues and formal letter writing to enhance your range.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 5.0

There are frequent grammatical errors throughout the text that occasionally impede clarity. Examples include 'there are no one who come' (should be 'there is no one who comes'), 'since one week' (should be 'for one week'), and 'not in correct bag' (should be 'not in the correct bags'). The sentence structures are mostly simple, and there is a lack of complex sentence forms. To improve, focus on subject-verb agreement, correct preposition usage, and incorporating a variety of complex sentence structures to demonstrate better control over English grammar.

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

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