Band 5.0 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 5.0 · Cambridge IELTS 13 · 2026-08-18

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 am writing this letter to pay your attention on the problems causing of garbage .

My name is Harminder singh , I am a residence of Langley street 201 and 53 aveneu.Since last couple of months our area is facing the problems of garbage collection as the rubbish collection system is not working properly . On every Wednesday garbage collecting truck should be come but its not happening . Some time they come late or some time they missed the routines which gives us a lot off problems . IN additon,dogs and cats ripped the bags and rubbish spilled all over in front of our homes which gives bad impressions .Additionally , it smells so irritable specially in rainy season It started stinking .

I have a suggesion if you approved . oOur society wants to make their own commety for rubbish

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 5.0

The letter addresses all three bullet points: the system failure, the impact on residents, and a suggestion for improvement. However, the response is under the 150-word minimum, which limits the development of ideas. The suggestion regarding a 'commety' is vague and lacks sufficient detail to be considered a fully developed solution. Because the response is under-length, it fails to meet the basic requirements of the task, which significantly impacts the score. To improve, you should expand on the consequences of the missed collections and provide a more concrete, well-explained proposal for the council to consider.

Coherence and Cohesion — Band 5.5

The letter follows a basic structure, but the paragraphing is inconsistent and the flow between ideas is somewhat disjointed. While you use some cohesive devices like 'In addition' and 'Additionally', the transition between the problem description and the suggestion is abrupt. The lack of a proper closing and the fragmented nature of the sentences make the progression of ideas feel mechanical. To improve, ensure each paragraph has a clear topic sentence and use a wider variety of linking words to connect your sentences more naturally.

Lexical Resource — Band 5.0

The vocabulary is generally adequate for the task, but there are several errors in word choice and spelling, such as 'residence' instead of 'resident', 'aveneu' instead of 'avenue', and 'commety' instead of 'committee'. Phrases like 'pay your attention on' are unnatural; a more standard collocation would be 'draw your attention to'. The range of vocabulary is limited, relying on basic descriptors like 'bad' and 'irritable'. To reach a higher band, focus on using more precise terminology related to waste management and proofreading for common spelling errors.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 5.0

The response contains frequent grammatical errors that occasionally impede clarity. Examples include 'garbage collecting truck should be come', 'dogs and cats ripped the bags', and 'if you approved'. There is a lack of control over verb tenses and subject-verb agreement. While you attempt some complex structures, they are often faulty, such as the run-on sentences in the second paragraph. To improve, focus on mastering basic sentence construction, specifically ensuring that verbs are correctly conjugated and that punctuation is used to separate distinct thoughts rather than relying on comma splices.

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

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