Band 5.0 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 5.0 · Cambridge IELTS 13 · 2026-08-20

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 officer,

i hope you well, I would like to inform you that from a long time the garbage collection of my area is not coming regularly,

However, there are so many garbage bags are stuck over the door of our houses due to that bad smells create bad environment and also affects our day to day life like many bad flies are increased. We also not able to send our children out due to this reason because it affects their life too.

I hope you can understand our situation and take some step to avoid this situation because its affects on day to day life.

thank you

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 5.0

The response fails to meet the minimum word count requirement of 150 words, reaching only 108 words. While you have addressed all three bullet points—describing the system failure, explaining the impact, and suggesting action—the ideas are significantly under-developed. For instance, the suggestion for what should be done is vague, stating only to 'take some step'. To improve, you must expand on your points with specific details and examples to meet the length requirement and provide a more comprehensive response that fully addresses the prompt's requirements.

Coherence and Cohesion — Band 5.0

The letter lacks a clear structure. While there is a basic attempt at paragraphing, the transitions between ideas are abrupt. The use of cohesive devices is very limited; for example, the use of 'However' at the start of the second paragraph is misused as it does not contrast with the previous sentence. To improve, you should use a wider range of linking words (e.g., 'consequently', 'furthermore', 'in addition') to connect your sentences and paragraphs more logically, ensuring the flow of the letter is smooth and easy to follow.

Lexical Resource — Band 5.0

Your vocabulary is quite basic and repetitive. You rely heavily on simple terms like 'bad' and 'garbage'. There are also issues with word choice and collocation, such as 'garbage collection... is not coming regularly' (should be 'is not being collected regularly') and 'bad smells create bad environment'. To reach a higher band, you need to use more precise and varied vocabulary. Instead of repeating 'bad', try using descriptive adjectives like 'unpleasant', 'hazardous', or 'unsanitary' to better convey the severity of the situation to the council.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 5.0

There are frequent grammatical errors throughout the text that occasionally impede clarity. Examples include 'from a long time' (should be 'for a long time'), 'there are so many garbage bags are stuck' (incorrect verb structure), and 'we also not able to' (missing auxiliary verb 'are'). The sentence structures are mostly simple, and the punctuation is inconsistent, particularly with the use of commas instead of full stops. To improve, focus on mastering basic sentence construction, subject-verb agreement, and the correct use of auxiliary verbs.

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

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