Band 5.5 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 5.5 · Cambridge IELTS 13 · 2026-08-25

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, Good Morning,

I hope you are doing well, I am writing this letter to get your attention in my area. The system that is used for rubbish/garbage collection in my local area is not working properly. We having so many problems with this kind of problem. This is a problem That is effecting so many people including children, old aged people and also young people. Rubbish collection system was good in last some months but from few months, the garbage collection trucks are not coming to collect garbage on time. Garbage bins also full. They come in 2 or 3 days in a month. We also don’t have as much as public bins in public areas like parks or near bus stops so the garbages are all on roads. This is effecting very badly on our health. We having problems in going outside because there is bad smell. Everywhere is garbage so kids have not as much space to play. People also getting sick because of mosquitoes bite. So, I just want rubbish trucks should be come to collect garbages in twice a week. And there should be more garbage bins in parks and bus stops.

Thank you

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 6.0

The letter addresses all three bullet points required by the task. You clearly describe the failure of the collection system, explain the negative impact on the community, and propose specific solutions. However, the development of these ideas is somewhat limited. For instance, the impact on the community is described in general terms, and the tone is slightly informal for a formal letter to a council. To improve, ensure that your ideas are expanded with more detail and that the tone remains consistently professional throughout the correspondence.

Coherence and Cohesion — Band 5.5

The letter is generally coherent, and the message is easy to follow. However, the paragraphing is missing; the entire response is written as a single block of text, which negatively impacts the structure. While you use some basic cohesive devices like 'So' and 'Also', the flow between sentences is occasionally repetitive. To reach a higher band, you should organize your letter into distinct paragraphs: one for the introduction and description of the problem, one for the impact, and one for your suggestions and closing. This would significantly improve the logical progression of your ideas.

Lexical Resource — Band 5.5

Your vocabulary is adequate for the task, allowing you to communicate your concerns clearly. You use relevant terms such as 'rubbish collection', 'garbage bins', and 'public areas'. However, the range is somewhat limited, and there are some inaccuracies in word choice, such as 'effecting' instead of 'affecting' and 'old aged people' instead of 'the elderly'. To improve, try to incorporate more precise vocabulary and avoid repeating the same words (like 'garbage' and 'problem') too frequently. Using a wider variety of descriptive adjectives and formal verbs would enhance the quality of your writing.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 5.0

You demonstrate a mix of simple and some attempted complex sentence structures. However, there are frequent grammatical errors that occasionally distract the reader, such as 'We having so many problems', 'They come in 2 or 3 days in a month', and 'rubbish trucks should be come'. These errors in verb tense and auxiliary usage are noticeable. While the meaning remains clear, the frequency of these slips prevents a higher score. Focusing on subject-verb agreement and correct tense usage will help you achieve more accuracy in your writing.

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

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