Band 6.0 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 6.0 · Cambridge IELTS 13 · 2026-08-19

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 6.0)

Dear Sir or Madam,

I am writing this letter to request you to solve rubbish collection problem that we have since last few weeks.

There are many issues that we are suffering currently with garbage collection. First and foremost, sanitation workers do not collection trash regularly, as a result we have to store it and consequently it creates an unpleasant odours at building.

Because of that, we sometimes feel bad or embarrassment in front of guests and neighbours. Many individuals live nearby complained us from last few days. Apart from this, many children get ill due to this, which is quite big concern for us.

I would be very thankful if you manage your trash collecting system properly. In additionally, please collect stored rubbish as soon as you can as it might create houseflies.

I hope you can solve the problem soon. I am looking forward to your reply.

Thank you,

Revanshi

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 6.0

The letter addresses all three bullet points of the prompt: describing the issue, explaining the impact, and suggesting a solution. The tone is appropriate for a formal letter to a council. However, the development of ideas is somewhat limited. For instance, the suggestion to 'manage your trash collecting system properly' is quite vague. To achieve a higher band, you should provide more specific details, such as requesting a change in the collection schedule or asking for additional bins to be provided. The response covers the requirements, but the depth of the arguments could be improved to fully satisfy the task.

Coherence and Cohesion — Band 6.5

The letter is logically organized into clear paragraphs, which helps the reader follow your argument. You use some cohesive devices such as 'First and foremost', 'as a result', and 'Apart from this' to link ideas. However, some transitions are slightly mechanical or misused, such as 'In additionally', which is grammatically incorrect. The flow between sentences is generally clear, but the connection between the impact on your neighbors and the health concerns for children could be smoother. Overall, the structure is functional and supports the purpose of the letter.

Lexical Resource — Band 6.0

You demonstrate an adequate range of vocabulary for this task, using words like 'sanitation', 'consequently', and 'embarrassment'. However, there are several instances of awkward word choice and collocation errors, such as 'create an unpleasant odours' (should be 'create unpleasant odors') and 'big concern' (a more academic alternative would be 'significant concern'). There are also minor errors in word form, such as 'collection' instead of 'collect'. While your meaning is always clear, the range of vocabulary is somewhat limited and lacks the precision required for higher bands.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 5.5

The letter contains a mix of simple and complex sentence structures. While you attempt complex sentences, there are frequent grammatical errors that affect the accuracy of your writing. Examples include 'request you to solve rubbish collection problem' (missing articles), 'do not collection trash' (incorrect verb form), and 'complained us from last few days' (incorrect preposition and tense). These errors are noticeable but do not prevent the reader from understanding your message. To improve, focus on subject-verb agreement, correct article usage, and consistent verb tenses.

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

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