Band 6.5 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 6.5 · Cambridge IELTS 13 · 2026-08-17

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'm writing this letter to express my concern regarding waste collection in my area. The collection system is working improperly and is not following the proper protocol.

Firstly, the vehicles coming to pick up the garbage are leaving the waste in the bins behind. Secondly, they are leaving the bins on the road, which is a safety hazard.

The leftover waste is quickly getting rotten and starting to smell, which is affecting the environment and creating a ruckus among the neighbours, as the smell is reaching their property.

The bins that are on roads causing the traffic jams and sometimes even minor accidents.

I have some suggestions to resolve these issues. To start with, the city can upgrade to new vehicles with the latest technologies, which will ensure no rubbish is left in the bins, and they will also place the bins at the same point where they pick them up. The same vehicles are being used by our neighbouring city. Kindly look into the matter at your earliest, Thakyou.

Yours truly,

XYZ.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 7.0

The letter successfully addresses all three bullet points required by the prompt. You clearly describe the issues with the collection system, explain the negative impact on the environment and traffic, and provide actionable suggestions for improvement. The tone is appropriate for a formal letter to a local council. To reach a higher band, ensure that your ideas are slightly more developed; for instance, you could elaborate on how the 'ruckus' among neighbours manifests or provide more specific details about the 'minor accidents' mentioned. Overall, the response is well-focused and meets the requirements of the task effectively.

Coherence and Cohesion — Band 6.5

The letter is logically organized, with a clear introduction, body paragraphs addressing the specific points, and a concluding suggestion. You use basic cohesive devices such as 'Firstly', 'Secondly', and 'To start with' to guide the reader through your arguments. While the structure is clear, the flow between sentences could be improved by using a wider variety of linking words and referencing. For example, instead of repeating 'the bins' or 'the vehicles', you could use pronouns or synonyms to create a smoother progression of ideas. Paragraphing is used appropriately to separate the problem from the proposed solutions.

Lexical Resource — Band 6.0

You demonstrate an adequate range of vocabulary for the task, using terms like 'protocol', 'safety hazard', and 'upgrade'. However, there are some instances of slightly unnatural word choices, such as 'working improperly' instead of 'functioning inefficiently' or 'creating a ruckus' which is a bit informal for a formal complaint. Additionally, there are minor errors in collocation, such as 'bins that are on roads causing the traffic jams', which could be phrased more naturally. Expanding your vocabulary to include more precise, formal collocations would help elevate your score in this criterion.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 6.0

You use a mix of simple and complex sentence structures, which is sufficient for this task. There are several grammatical slips, such as 'The bins that are on roads causing the traffic jams' (missing a verb, e.g., 'are causing') and 'The same vehicles are being used by our neighbouring city' (which is slightly awkward in this context). Punctuation is generally clear, though there are minor issues with sentence boundaries. To improve, focus on ensuring that every sentence has a clear subject and a finite verb, and try to incorporate more varied complex structures to demonstrate greater control.

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

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