Band 6.5 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 6.5 · 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 6.5)

Dear Council,

I hope you are feeling well. I am Manpreet kaur and writing this letter to express my concern about the ongoing issue of rubbish collection system which is not working properly for almost four days.

The main reason behind this issue is poor management as the garbage system is not set up for specific ab days. Before it was held on Mondays and Tuesdays but currently sometimes they just pick up rubbish on Saturdays only. This way cause number of problems for the local residents.

It has been observed that most of the bins stay outside for many days . due to this, some rats or insects can be seen on the rubbish which definitely leads to many diseases.

To overcome this matter, Council committee should provide some alternatives until fix this issues. They can set up fixed days for collecting garbage. Also, they can inform to the people about any inconvenience in advance so that residents can be aware.

Thanks for consideration of my letter and looking for your prompt reply.

Yours Sincerely,

Manpreet Kaur.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 7.0

The letter addresses all three bullet points of the prompt. You clearly describe the irregularity of the collection, explain the negative impact on the neighborhood, and propose logical solutions. The tone is appropriate for a formal letter to a council. However, the development of ideas is somewhat brief. For instance, while you mention that the bins stay outside, you could have expanded slightly on the specific health risks or the visual impact on the street to fully develop the argument. Overall, the response is relevant and covers all requirements of the task effectively.

Coherence and Cohesion — Band 6.5

The letter is logically organized with a clear introduction, body paragraphs, and a closing. Each paragraph focuses on a specific aspect of the task. You use some cohesive devices such as 'The main reason behind this', 'It has been observed that', and 'To overcome this matter'. However, the flow between sentences is occasionally slightly mechanical. Some transitions could be more sophisticated to improve the overall cohesion. Paragraphing is used correctly to separate the different points, which helps the reader follow your argument easily.

Lexical Resource — Band 6.0

You demonstrate an adequate range of vocabulary for the task, such as 'ongoing issue', 'local residents', and 'inconvenience'. There are some minor inaccuracies in word choice, such as 'ab days' (likely a typo for 'specific days') and 'fix this issues' (should be 'fix these issues'). While the vocabulary is sufficient to convey your meaning clearly, it lacks the range of less common or more precise collocations that would push the score into the higher bands. The language is functional and appropriate for the context of a formal complaint.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 6.0

You use a mix of simple and complex sentence structures. There are several grammatical errors, such as 'I am Manpreet kaur and writing this letter' (missing 'I am'), 'This way cause' (should be 'This causes'), and 'inform to the people' (should be 'inform the people'). Despite these errors, the meaning remains clear throughout the letter. You have attempted some complex structures, but the control over them is inconsistent. To improve, focus on subject-verb agreement and the correct use of articles and prepositions.

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.