Band 5.0 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer
Overall Band Score: 5.0 · Cambridge IELTS 13 · 2026-08-15
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 hope you are doing well. We are waiting letter regarding of rubbish collection our area not good working properly. That's way send that letter.
However,I saw many time as per accurate time and not come to your staff come to the our local area they are not work property and some time not come too collect our garbage bages. Being they are not working properly.
Although,We are big family and my neighbours also big family that's way avery days more rubbish collection our said. During not collect any one our garbage thay are increase bad smell surrounding areas that is not good for environment. That is bad affecting our people are birthing whole days.
In additional,I can request you people follow your staff regarding. They are not come to accurate time and days. Please strike action again not follow this every day take garbage our area.
I hope you understand my request for garbage regarding.
Yours Sincerely,
Ravi Rathod.
AI examiner evaluation
| Criterion | Band |
|---|---|
| Task Achievement / Task Response | 5.0 |
| Coherence and Cohesion | 5.0 |
| Lexical Resource | 5.0 |
| Grammatical Range and Accuracy | 5.0 |
| Overall | 5.0 |
Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 5.0
The letter addresses all three bullet points: the failure of the collection system, the impact on residents, and a suggested solution. However, the development of these ideas is limited by significant language barriers. While the purpose of the letter is clear, the explanation of the problems is repetitive and lacks specific detail, such as the duration of the issue or the specific location. The tone is appropriate for a formal letter to a council, but the lack of clarity in expressing the 'how' and 'why' prevents the response from reaching a higher band. To improve, you should focus on providing more concrete examples and ensuring each point is fully elaborated.
Coherence and Cohesion — Band 5.0
The letter is organised into paragraphs, which is a positive feature. However, the progression of ideas is often disjointed due to the misuse of cohesive devices. For example, 'Although' is used incorrectly at the start of a paragraph, and 'In additional' is a non-standard transition. The referencing is sometimes unclear, making it difficult for the reader to follow the flow of the argument. While the letter is divided into logical sections, the lack of accurate linking words and the repetitive nature of the sentences hinder the overall coherence of the text.
Lexical Resource — Band 5.0
The vocabulary is quite limited and repetitive, relying on basic words like 'good', 'bad', and 'working'. There are several instances of incorrect word choice and collocation, such as 'garbage bages' (bags), 'birthing' (breathing), and 'strike action' (which is used incorrectly in this context). The range of vocabulary is insufficient to express complex ideas or formal complaints effectively. To improve, you should focus on learning topic-specific collocations related to public services and waste management, and work on using more precise adjectives and verbs to describe the situation.
Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 5.0
The letter contains frequent grammatical errors that often impede communication. There are consistent issues with subject-verb agreement (e.g., 'they are not work property'), tense usage, and sentence structure. Many sentences are fragmented or lack necessary articles and prepositions, such as 'We are waiting letter regarding of rubbish collection'. While there is an attempt to use complex structures, these are almost always faulty. The high frequency of errors in basic sentence construction means that the reader must work hard to interpret the intended meaning, which is characteristic of a Band 5 level.
See this exact question answered at other band scores — the same prompt compared across bands.
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