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 or Madam,

I am writing to complain about garbage collection system which does not work properly which leads to many problems for our society.

The garbage collectors do not come regularly to collect garbage from our society. They do not come to collect garbage until a lot of garbage collected. Secondly, when they collect garbage, they left a lot of garbage in the bins.

This affect me and my neighbours a lot because the garbage block the exist towards the street for me and my neighbours. So, we move garbage before leaving home. My sister got infected with malaria because a lot of mosquitoes spread because of that garbage.

So, I requested to you that take this matter serious. Give instructions to your collectors to become punctual and do the work properly. If they do not work properly after that, then hire the new workers which are more dedicated to do that work.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 6.0

The letter addresses all three bullet points of 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 mention of malaria is a significant claim that could have been elaborated upon more effectively to show the severity of the situation. While the response covers the requirements, the ideas are presented in a fairly basic manner. To reach a higher band, you should aim to expand on your points with more descriptive detail and ensure the connection between the problem and the proposed solution is more logically structured.

Coherence and Cohesion — Band 6.0

The letter is organized into clear paragraphs, which helps the reader follow the structure of the complaint. There is a logical progression from the problem to the impact and finally to the suggested action. However, the use of cohesive devices is somewhat mechanical and repetitive. For example, the frequent use of 'garbage' and 'collect' makes the flow feel a bit stilted. The transition between sentences could be improved by using a wider variety of linking words (e.g., 'consequently', 'furthermore', 'in light of this') rather than relying on simple conjunctions like 'so' or 'secondly'.

Lexical Resource — Band 5.5

The vocabulary is adequate for the task but lacks variety and precision. You rely heavily on the word 'garbage' throughout the letter. Using synonyms such as 'refuse', 'waste', or 'rubbish' would demonstrate a better range. Additionally, there are some minor collocation errors, such as 'take this matter serious' (should be 'seriously') and 'move garbage' (should be 'clear the garbage'). While the meaning is always clear, the lexical range is somewhat limited, preventing the response from reaching a higher band. Incorporating more topic-specific vocabulary would enhance the quality of your writing.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 5.5

The response contains a mix of simple and complex sentence structures, but there are frequent grammatical errors that occasionally distract the reader. For example, 'which does not work properly which leads to' is a run-on structure, and 'when they collect garbage, they left' shows an inconsistent use of verb tense. There are also issues with article usage and subject-verb agreement, such as 'hire the new workers' and 'a lot of garbage collected'. While these errors do not prevent the message from being understood, they indicate a need for more careful proofreading and a better grasp of sentence construction.

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

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