Band 6.5 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 6.5 · 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 6.5)

Dear Sir,

I am writing to express my concern regarding the garbage collection system in our local area, which has not been functioning properly over last couple of weeks.

Recently, the scheduled collection service has been frequently missed, leading to waste being left in bins. Furthermore, when collection occurs, bins are only partially taken and trash is being left on street road attracting flies and other animals.

This failure in service is causing problems for myself and my neighbours. Uncollected waste is stock up attracting various insects and causing unpleasant odour. Additionally, sanitation risk arises and creates a hazardous place for pedestrians to walk in through neighbourhood.

To resolve this issue, I suggest the council should set an immediate clearing of those garbage bins. Additionally, I request that you review performance and scheduling of current team to ensure smooth garbage collection on allocated days.

Thank you for your attention to this matter, and I look forward to your prompt attention.

Yours faithfully,

Bi

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 7.0

You have addressed all three bullet points of the task effectively. You clearly described the failure of the collection system, explained the negative impact on the neighborhood, and provided actionable suggestions for the council. The tone is appropriate for a formal letter of complaint. The ideas are well-developed and the purpose of the letter is clear from the beginning. To reach a higher band, you could provide slightly more specific details regarding the duration of the problem or the specific types of waste, which would further enhance the development of your ideas.

Coherence and Cohesion — Band 7.0

The letter is logically organized with a clear introduction, body paragraphs, and a formal closing. Each paragraph focuses on a specific aspect of the prompt, which helps the reader follow your argument easily. You have used some cohesive devices such as 'Furthermore', 'Additionally', and 'To resolve this issue' to link your ideas. However, the flow could be improved by using a wider variety of linking words and ensuring that the transition between sentences is smoother. The paragraphing is appropriate for a formal letter.

Lexical Resource — Band 6.0

You demonstrate an adequate range of vocabulary for the task, using terms like 'sanitation risk', 'hazardous', and 'allocated days'. There are some minor errors in word choice and collocation, such as 'street road' (which is redundant) and 'stock up' (which should be 'stockpiling' or 'piling up'). While these errors do not impede communication, they prevent the vocabulary from being considered highly precise. Expanding your range to include more sophisticated collocations related to municipal services would help improve your score in this criterion.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 6.0

You use a mix of simple and complex sentence structures, which is appropriate for this task. There are some grammatical slips, such as 'over last couple of weeks' (missing 'the'), 'bins are only partially taken' (should be 'emptied'), and 'walk in through neighbourhood' (awkward phrasing). Despite these errors, the meaning remains clear throughout the letter. To achieve a higher band, focus on ensuring consistent use of articles and improving the accuracy of verb phrases to ensure your writing is more polished and error-free.

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

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