Band 6.0 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer
Overall Band Score: 6.0 · Cambridge IELTS 13 · 2026-08-21
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/Ma’am,
This is Hassan from Mississauga L5M,6J7,i am writing to bring your attention to our area garbage collection system.There is no clear pattern for pickup the garbage bins in our neighbourhood.We are putting full bins near the road edge and have to wait for their pickup.The long standing bins cause disturbance in moving the cars in driveways or moving out from driveways, it will be good to mention here that one of my neighbours got her car contacted with on bin and scratched her car.Moreover these garbage bins attracting mosquitoes and other bugs that are allergic.Before a year the situation was totally different, the team was coming 3 days a week and picking up recycled , garbage and organic waste on each day.Now hardly they are coming once a week.I hope you will take care of this issue and get back to us asap.Looking forward to hear from you.
Regards
Mahtan Hassan
AI examiner evaluation
| Criterion | Band |
|---|---|
| Task Achievement / Task Response | 6.5 |
| Coherence and Cohesion | 6.0 |
| Lexical Resource | 6.0 |
| Grammatical Range and Accuracy | 5.5 |
| Overall | 6.0 |
Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 6.5
The letter addresses all three bullet points required by the task. You clearly describe the inconsistency in the collection schedule, explain the negative impact on the neighborhood (car damage and pests), and imply a need for a return to the previous service level. The tone is appropriate for a formal letter to a council. To improve, ensure you explicitly state a recommendation or a specific request for action, such as requesting a meeting or a formal review of the waste management contract, rather than just hoping they take care of the issue. The ideas are relevant, though they could be expanded slightly to provide more depth regarding the proposed solution.
Coherence and Cohesion — Band 6.0
The letter follows a logical progression, moving from the introduction of the problem to its specific consequences and finally to the desired outcome. However, the paragraphing is non-existent, which makes the text appear as a single block. Using distinct paragraphs for the introduction, the body (problem and impact), and the conclusion would significantly improve the structure. While you use some cohesive devices like 'Moreover' and 'Before a year', the flow between sentences is occasionally mechanical. Improving the use of transition words and ensuring clear paragraph breaks will help the reader follow your argument more effectively.
Lexical Resource — Band 6.0
You have a sufficient range of vocabulary to convey your message clearly, such as 'disturbance', 'scratched', and 'inconsistent'. However, there are some inaccuracies in word choice and collocation. For example, 'allergic' is used incorrectly to describe bugs (they are likely 'a health hazard' or 'unsanitary'), and 'contacted with' is not natural English; 'collided with' would be more precise. Additionally, there are minor errors in phrasing, such as 'bring your attention to' (should be 'bring to your attention'). Expanding your vocabulary to include more precise formal terminology would elevate your score.
Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 5.5
The letter contains a mix of simple and complex sentence structures. While the meaning is generally clear, there are frequent errors in grammar and punctuation. Issues include missing articles ('the garbage collection system'), incorrect verb forms ('attracting' instead of 'are attracting'), and punctuation errors, such as missing spaces after commas and periods. There are also some awkward phrasings, such as 'it will be good to mention here'. To reach a higher band, focus on proofreading for basic subject-verb agreement and ensuring that complex sentences are constructed with greater accuracy.
See this exact question answered at other band scores — the same prompt compared across bands.
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