Band 5.5 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer
Overall Band Score: 5.5 · 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 5.5)
Dear Sir,
Greetings for the day!
Through this letter, I am concerning you that our community rubbish collection system is not working properly. Moreover, whenever any of us put the waste in it it spreads all the waste outside and spoils all the surrounding along with this sometimes it does not open properly.
As, we all society members are distressed from this issue and we are facing this problem since week. Moreover, this is affecting us more because we do not throw our waste and our home is full of wastage and we are not feeling comfortable from this.
To overcome this problem as a citizen I would suggest you that you can replace this system with new one or have to repair it as soon as possible.
Looking forward to your prompt response!
Yours Faithfully,
Raghvir Pathak
AI examiner evaluation
| Criterion | Band |
|---|---|
| Task Achievement / Task Response | 5.0 |
| Coherence and Cohesion | 5.5 |
| Lexical Resource | 5.5 |
| Grammatical Range and Accuracy | 5.5 |
| Overall | 5.5 |
Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 5.0
The letter covers all three bullet points: describing the faulty system, explaining the impact, and suggesting a solution. 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 suggestions for improvement are brief. To reach a higher band, you should expand on the consequences of the issue—for example, by mentioning potential health hazards or pests—and provide more specific details regarding the proposed solution. The tone is generally appropriate for a formal letter, but the brevity prevents a fully developed response.
Coherence and Cohesion — Band 5.5
The letter is organised into logical paragraphs, which helps the reader follow the structure. You use some cohesive devices like 'Moreover' and 'To overcome this problem', though these are used somewhat mechanically. The progression of ideas is clear, but the transitions between sentences could be smoother. For instance, the second paragraph feels slightly disjointed due to the phrasing 'As, we all society members'. Improving the variety of linking words and ensuring that each paragraph has a clear topic sentence would enhance the overall flow and coherence of your writing.
Lexical Resource — Band 5.5
The vocabulary is adequate for the task but lacks variety and precision. You rely on basic terms like 'rubbish', 'waste', and 'problem'. There are also some awkward collocations, such as 'concerning you' (should be 'writing to inform you') and 'spoils all the surrounding' (should be 'spoils the surrounding area'). To improve, try to incorporate more specific vocabulary related to waste management and formal correspondence. While your meaning is generally clear, the limited range of vocabulary prevents a higher score. Focus on using more precise nouns and verbs to describe the situation.
Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 5.5
There is a mix of simple and some complex sentence structures, but the accuracy is inconsistent. You have several grammatical errors, such as 'I am concerning you' instead of 'I am writing to inform you', and 'facing this problem since week' (should be 'for a week'). Additionally, 'we do not throw our waste' is slightly unclear in context. While these errors do not completely impede communication, they are frequent enough to affect the overall quality. You should focus on subject-verb agreement, correct preposition usage, and ensuring that your sentence structures are grammatically sound.
See this exact question answered at other band scores — the same prompt compared across bands.
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