Band 6.0 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 6.0 · 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 6.0)

Dear Sir/ Madam,

I hope you are doing well. I am writing to inform you about the garbage collection system which is not working properly since last week, it did not collect all the rubbish properly and I had emailed so many times to council and I am not getting any response. However, it is causing so much trouble to us as well as to our neighbours.

Furthermore, it is creating so much trouble to us because me and my neighbour think that we put our garbage in each other’s bin which created a dispute between us and when I checked my camera it was seen that the system is not collecting properly.

Moving further, I think that it is very important to look upon this matter because it is creating a lot of trouble to everyone and you must check the situation which is causing problem to individuals by checking all the system if it needs repair. I hope you find this letter well.

Thanks and Regards

Anamika

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 6.0

You have addressed all three bullet points of the task: describing the problem, explaining the impact, and suggesting a solution. However, the development of these ideas is somewhat limited. For instance, the explanation of the impact—mentioning a dispute with a neighbour over bin usage—is a bit confusing and does not clearly link back to the council's failure to collect rubbish. To improve, ensure your ideas are more logically connected and fully explained. The tone is generally appropriate for a formal letter, though the structure could be more professional to better meet the requirements of a formal complaint.

Coherence and Cohesion — Band 6.0

The letter is organised into paragraphs, which is a positive step. However, the use of cohesive devices is somewhat mechanical and occasionally repetitive. Phrases like 'Moving further' and 'Furthermore' are used, but the logical flow between sentences is sometimes strained, particularly in the second paragraph where the transition from the rubbish collection issue to the neighbour dispute is abrupt. To reach a higher band, focus on using a wider variety of linking words and ensure that each paragraph has a clear, singular focus that progresses the argument logically.

Lexical Resource — Band 6.0

Your vocabulary is adequate for the task, allowing you to communicate your message clearly. You use some functional vocabulary related to the topic, such as 'garbage collection' and 'system'. However, the range is somewhat limited, and there is a reliance on basic descriptors like 'trouble' and 'properly', which are repeated several times. To improve, try to incorporate more precise synonyms and collocations related to municipal services and formal complaints. For example, instead of saying 'not working properly', you could use 'malfunctioning' or 'inadequate service'.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 5.5

You demonstrate a mix of simple and complex sentence structures. There are several grammatical errors, such as 'since last week, it did not collect' (should be 'has not been collecting') and 'I had emailed so many times to council' (should be 'I have emailed the council several times'). Additionally, there are issues with punctuation and sentence boundaries, such as run-on sentences. While these errors do not completely impede communication, they occur frequently enough to affect the overall fluency of the text. Focus on mastering verb tenses and improving your control over complex sentence construction.

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

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