Band 6.0 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 6.0 · Cambridge IELTS 13 · 2026-08-09

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,

Our city had started the garbage collecting system from every home twice a week after Covid-19 Pandemic. Initially, The system was providing the top-notch service, However, Ever since the end of last year, The garbage collecting trucks timing became totally unexpected, Also the drivers are not operating the vehicle properly and leaves the garbage boxes full of trash.

Because of this, All the residents (Including me and my neighbors) are facing extremely difficulty, The trash bins gets become filthy and we have to suffer from the smell whenever we get out from the house. Also the garbage truck drivers drive the vehicle extremely fast and in dangerous way, these behaviors put our family members and vehicle under the risk.

Basically, We all the members of our area would like to suggest few things here, First of all, The council should make specific days and timings for the garbage collection, Moreover, They should also implement the strict rules for the truck drivers for our safety.

I look forward to hearing from you soon, Also expect to solve our problem as soon as possible.

Your Faithfully,

Aditya Patel

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 6.5

The letter addresses all three bullet points of the prompt. You clearly describe the issues with the collection system, explain the negative impact on residents, and provide suggestions for improvement. The tone is appropriate for a formal letter to a council. However, the development of ideas is somewhat basic. For example, while you mention the smell and safety concerns, these points could be expanded with more specific detail to fully satisfy the requirements for a higher band. The letter is well-structured and follows the required format, ensuring the purpose of the communication is clear throughout.

Coherence and Cohesion — Band 6.0

The letter is logically organized into clear paragraphs, each focusing on a specific aspect of the task. You use basic cohesive devices such as 'Initially', 'However', 'Because of this', and 'Moreover' to connect your ideas. While the flow is generally easy to follow, some transitions feel a bit mechanical or repetitive. Additionally, the punctuation is occasionally inconsistent, such as the unnecessary capitalization of words like 'The' and 'Also' in the middle of sentences, which slightly disrupts the flow of the text. Improving the variety of linking words would enhance the overall coherence.

Lexical Resource — Band 6.0

You demonstrate an adequate range of vocabulary for the task, using terms like 'top-notch', 'filthy', and 'implement'. However, there are some inaccuracies in word choice and collocation, such as 'facing extremely difficulty' (should be 'facing extreme difficulty') and 'garbage boxes' (more commonly 'bins' or 'receptacles'). The vocabulary is functional and conveys your meaning clearly, but it lacks the precision and sophistication required for higher bands. To improve, focus on using more natural collocations and avoiding repetitive phrasing.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 5.5

You use a mix of simple and complex sentence structures, but there are frequent errors in grammar and punctuation. Examples include 'Our city had started the garbage collecting system... after Covid-19 Pandemic' (incorrect tense and article usage), 'trash bins gets become' (redundant verbs), and 'in dangerous way' (missing article). Additionally, there are several issues with capitalization and comma usage. While these errors do not prevent the reader from understanding your message, they are frequent enough to impact the overall accuracy of your writing. Focusing on subject-verb agreement and article usage will help improve your score.

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

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