Band 5.5 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 5.5 · 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 5.5)

Dear Sir or Madam,

I hope you are doing well.Today i want to discuss a very serious issue that is in our local area garbage collection system is not working well .

However , we have registered our complain to near by union office no one solved our problem infact nor they visited. The garbage on the road become the cause of serious diseases such as Malaria ,Typhoid and other breath diseases . IF rain happens then we are unable to pass the street and in our neighbour houses we have seen some cases of dengue attack on minors as well. Sir kindly arrange a team who will clean the road and remove the garbage from the streets and make a proper system of complaint so in case of any problem they will solve our issue as soon as possible . I will be very thankful to you if you take action on this.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 6.0

The letter addresses all three bullet points: the failure of the collection system, the impact on the community, and a suggested solution. However, the development is somewhat limited. While you mention specific diseases like 'Malaria' and 'Typhoid', the explanation of the system failure is brief. To reach a higher band, you should expand on the nature of the failure (e.g., how long it has been occurring or the frequency of missed collections). The tone is appropriate for a formal letter to a council, and the purpose is clear throughout the response.

Coherence and Cohesion — Band 5.5

The letter is short and lacks clear paragraphing, which is essential for a formal letter. The ideas are presented in a single block, making it difficult for the reader to distinguish between the problem, the impact, and the proposed solution. While there is some logical progression, the use of cohesive devices is minimal. For example, the transition between the complaint and the impact is abrupt. Using clear paragraph breaks and linking words such as 'consequently', 'furthermore', or 'in addition' would significantly improve the flow and structure of your writing.

Lexical Resource — Band 5.5

The vocabulary is adequate for the task but lacks variety and precision. You use basic terms like 'not working well' and 'solve our problem'. While you successfully use some topic-specific vocabulary such as 'garbage collection', 'diseases', and 'dengue attack', there are errors in word choice and collocation, such as 'breath diseases' (should be 'respiratory diseases') and 'near by union office' (should be 'local council office'). Expanding your range of vocabulary to include more formal expressions would help convey your message more effectively.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 5.0

There are frequent grammatical errors, particularly with sentence structure, punctuation, and articles. For instance, 'Today i want to discuss' should be 'Today, I would like to discuss', and 'IF rain happens' is unnatural phrasing. You also have issues with run-on sentences and missing commas. While your meaning is generally clear, the frequency of these errors impacts the fluency of the text. To improve, focus on basic sentence construction, ensure you use capital letters for 'I', and practice using complex sentences with correct subordinating conjunctions.

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

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