Band 6.5 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 6.5 · 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 6.5)

Dear Sir or Madam,

I am writing this letter regarding an issue with waste dumping system allotted by municipal government.

We are mainly facing two issues with the system. Firstly, If we put household liquid waste down the drain pipe it is leaking from bottom part where hooze is connected with main stream dumpster. Secondly, the self cleaning system sensor is broken so it is detecting the high level of debris inside the pipe leading to power cut-off automatically. We had a brief meeting with other flatmates regarding these issue and they are facing it too.

I would like to request you to please send technician to repair or replace the system as we have to pay the private contractors to get rid of generated waste which is affecting our overall monthly expenses. Moreover, if you can please arrange a portable dumpster trolly which we all can use as a temporary measure to dispose down our household waste.

Yours Sincerely

Deep Ukani

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 6.5

You have addressed all three bullet points in the prompt: describing the system failure, explaining the impact on residents, and suggesting solutions. The tone is appropriate for a formal letter to a council. However, the description of the technical issues is slightly confusing; for instance, the mention of 'household liquid waste' and 'main stream dumpster' suggests a misunderstanding of typical municipal waste systems, which makes the scenario feel a bit unrealistic. To reach a higher band, ensure your ideas are fully developed and clearly explained so the reader can easily visualize the problem. Overall, the task requirements are met.

Coherence and Cohesion — Band 6.5

The letter is organized into clear paragraphs, which helps the reader follow your argument. You use basic cohesive devices like 'Firstly', 'Secondly', and 'Moreover' to link your ideas. However, the flow between sentences is sometimes a bit mechanical. For example, the transition from the problem description to the impact on neighbors could be smoother. Additionally, some referencing is slightly unclear, such as 'these issue' (should be plural 'these issues'). Improving the variety of your linking words and ensuring consistent pronoun usage would enhance the overall coherence of your writing.

Lexical Resource — Band 6.0

You have a sufficient range of vocabulary to communicate your message effectively. You use some specific terms like 'municipal government', 'contractors', and 'temporary measure'. However, there are some inaccuracies in word choice and collocation, such as 'waste dumping system' (usually 'waste collection system') and 'hooze' (spelling error for 'hose'). The phrase 'dispose down our household waste' is also non-standard. While these errors do not impede communication, they prevent the response from reaching a higher band. Focusing on more precise collocations will help improve your score.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 6.0

You demonstrate a mix of simple and complex sentence structures. There are several grammatical errors, such as missing articles ('send technician' should be 'send a technician'), subject-verb agreement issues ('they are facing it too' is vague), and punctuation errors (e.g., 'If' should not be capitalized mid-sentence). While you attempt complex sentences, they often contain minor errors that slightly distract the reader. To improve, pay closer attention to article usage and ensure that your complex sentences are punctuated correctly. The meaning remains clear throughout, which is a positive aspect of your writing.

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

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