Band 5.5 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer
Overall Band Score: 5.5 · 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 5.5)
Dear sir
Neatness plays paramount role therefore we have to look after it because if we are not paying attention towards the neatness of our nation than how Nation would develop. To commence with I have been observing the rubbish in my residential area which haven't been cleared yet which is causing so many problems to us therefore It's a humble request to the local council to get the area clean as soon as possible apart from it I have submitted the application for two times but no action has been taken untill now which shows that rubbish collection system is not working properly so they should be punished for that . Due to the rubbish many people are suffering from health problems such as malaria,dangue and so on. To sum up i would say strict action must be taken by the authorities because it's their responsibility to look after the problems of the civilian if they are facing something and the rubbish should be removed and they should definitely fire those persons from rubbish collection system who are not devoted to their works.
AI examiner evaluation
| Criterion | Band |
|---|---|
| Task Achievement / Task Response | 5.5 |
| Coherence and Cohesion | 5.0 |
| Lexical Resource | 5.5 |
| Grammatical Range and Accuracy | 5.0 |
| Overall | 5.5 |
Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 5.5
You have addressed all three bullet points: describing the issue, explaining the impact, and suggesting a solution. However, the tone is inappropriate for a formal letter to a local council. The language used, such as suggesting that council workers should be 'punished' or 'fired', is aggressive and unprofessional rather than persuasive. While the ideas are relevant, they lack the formal development required for a Band 7+ response. To improve, focus on maintaining a polite, professional tone and providing more specific details about the rubbish collection schedule or the specific nature of the waste accumulation.
Coherence and Cohesion — Band 5.0
The letter lacks proper paragraphing, appearing as one large block of text. This makes it difficult to follow the progression of your argument. While you use some cohesive devices like 'To commence with' and 'To sum up', these are used mechanically and do not always fit the context of a formal letter. The lack of clear paragraph breaks between the introduction, the body of the complaint, and the conclusion significantly impacts the readability and logical flow of your writing.
Lexical Resource — Band 5.5
Your vocabulary is somewhat limited and repetitive. You use basic phrasing such as 'look after it' and 'so many problems'. There are also spelling errors, such as 'dangue' (dengue) and 'untill' (until). While you attempt some more formal language like 'paramount role' and 'devoted', the overall control is inconsistent. To reach a higher band, focus on using more precise vocabulary related to municipal services and health issues, and ensure that your spelling is accurate.
Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 5.0
The letter contains several grammatical errors that hinder clarity. There are issues with subject-verb agreement ('rubbish... which haven't been cleared'), run-on sentences, and incorrect punctuation. Many sentences are overly long and lack proper structure, making them difficult to parse. For example, the opening sentence is a comma splice. You need to focus on using shorter, clearer sentences and mastering basic punctuation, such as using full stops instead of commas to separate independent clauses.
See this exact question answered at other band scores — the same prompt compared across bands.
Browse more IELTS Writing model answers or get your own writing scored by the same AI examiner.