Band 6.0 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 6.0 · Cambridge IELTS 13 · 2026-08-24

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,

I am writing to request some information about the garbage collection in my local area is not working properly. I want to address some concern in this letter.

Firstly, I want to described the rubbish/garbage collection system is not working because the garbage trucks is not coming on the scheduled days. We put garbage bins outside at every Saturday. Bins are staying full several days. Collection scheduled is not being follow properly.

Even though, this problem is effecting me and my neighbours as well. Bins are full several days cause smell, insects, possibly rats. in addition the streets look dirty and smell all around. I would appreciate if you could take action because it hygiene issues as well. Most often kids play outside so they can be suffer for this issue.

Overall, could you please resolve this concern and manage this issue. i beilive if you can increase the frequency of garbage collection or provide additional bins, so that would be great help. Also, you can check why they are following the scheduled,

I would really appreciated if you could take actions of this concern.

Your faithfully,

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 6.5

The letter addresses all three bullet points required by the prompt: describing the system failure, explaining the impact on the community, and suggesting solutions. The tone is appropriate for a formal letter to a council. However, the development of ideas is somewhat limited. For instance, the impact on the community is mentioned briefly, and the suggestions are quite general. To reach a higher band, you should expand on the consequences (e.g., specific health risks or the duration of the problem) and provide more detailed, actionable suggestions. Despite these minor limitations, the purpose of the letter is clear and the requirements are met.

Coherence and Cohesion — Band 6.0

The letter is organized into logical paragraphs, each focusing on a specific aspect of the task. There is a clear introduction, body, and conclusion. You use some cohesive devices such as 'Firstly', 'Even though', and 'In addition', which help guide the reader. However, some transitions are slightly mechanical or misused, such as 'Even though' at the start of the second paragraph, which does not logically connect to the previous sentence. Additionally, some sentences are fragmented or lack smooth flow, which occasionally disrupts the progression of ideas. Improving the variety and accuracy of linking words would enhance the overall coherence.

Lexical Resource — Band 6.0

You demonstrate an adequate range of vocabulary for the task, using terms like 'scheduled days', 'hygiene issues', and 'frequency'. However, there are several instances of word-choice errors and awkward phrasing, such as 'they can be suffer for this issue' and 'take actions of this concern'. These errors do not impede communication, but they indicate a need for more precise control over collocations and word forms. To improve, focus on learning common phrases used in formal correspondence, such as 'take action regarding' or 'resolve the matter'.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 5.5

You attempt a mix of simple and complex sentence structures, but there are frequent grammatical errors throughout the text. Examples include subject-verb agreement issues ('garbage trucks is not coming', 'Collection scheduled is not being follow') and incorrect verb forms ('I want to described', 'I would really appreciated'). These errors are noticeable and occur frequently, although they do not prevent the reader from understanding your message. To move to a higher band, you need to focus on consistent subject-verb agreement, correct tense usage, and ensuring that passive voice constructions are formed accurately.

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

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