Band 5.5 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 5.5 · Cambridge IELTS 13 · 2026-08-12

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 5.5)

Dear Sir,

I am writing to put your attention toward the problem which is facing by our local people. As in our local area garbage truck comes on every Tuesday but for last two weeks truck has not been come. Therefore large dumps of trash has scattered on every street.

Furthermore, people in my area are suffering from various diseases the main reason behind this is trash, Garbage are spread on footpaths due to this its very hard for commuters to go out on walk smell of garbage spread all over the locality.

I would appreciate it if you could make sure that garbage truck comes every tueday. and It would be more beneficial for public if there would more garbage bins installed.

I look forward to see your prompt action to mitigate this problem as early as possible.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 5.0

The letter covers all three bullet points: the failure of the collection system, the impact on the community, and a suggestion for improvement. However, the response is under the 150-word minimum, which limits the development of ideas. The explanation of the impact is somewhat repetitive, and the suggestion could be more detailed. Because the length requirement was not met, the response is penalized under this criterion, as the ideas are not fully developed to the extent required for a higher band.

Coherence and Cohesion — Band 6.0

The letter is organized into logical paragraphs, which helps the reader follow the structure. However, the use of cohesive devices is somewhat mechanical and limited. For example, 'Furthermore' is used to start a paragraph, but the transitions between sentences within paragraphs are occasionally abrupt. The referencing is sometimes unclear, such as the use of 'this' without a clear antecedent in the second paragraph. Overall, the progression of ideas is present but could be smoother with more varied linking words.

Lexical Resource — Band 5.5

The vocabulary is adequate for the task but lacks variety and precision. There are several instances of awkward phrasing, such as 'put your attention toward' instead of 'draw your attention to' and 'large dumps of trash has scattered'. The word choice is generally functional but repetitive, relying on basic terms like 'trash' and 'garbage'. To reach a higher band, you should aim to use more sophisticated collocations and ensure that word forms are used correctly in context.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 5.0

There are frequent grammatical errors throughout the text, including subject-verb agreement issues ('truck has not been come', 'trash has scattered') and article usage errors ('on footpaths', 'on a walk'). The sentence structures are mostly simple or contain errors when attempting complexity. While the meaning is generally clear, the frequency of these errors requires the reader to make an effort to interpret the intended message. Improving control over basic verb tenses and pluralization is essential.

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

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