Band 7.0 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 7.0 · Cambridge IELTS 13 · 2026-08-26

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 7.0)

Dear Sir or Madam,

I am writing to complain about garbage collection system that is not working properly since the past two weeks.

Actually the rubbish used to be collected on every Friday before; however, it has not been collected on regular time for the past few days. It causes several issues to me and my neighbourhood. Because of the irregular collection service, many garbage bags are piled up and they produce unpleasant smell. Moreover, animals are rupturing garbage bags and spreading rubbish all over the road which makes our local area so dirty. Moreover, it attracts flies and other insects that create serious health problems.

I kindly request you to have a look into this matter and resolve the problem as soon as possible to keep our area and environment clean and disease-free. Could you please check why the system is not working properly? Also it would be great if you can also arrange something to pick up accumulated garbage bags.

I look forward to hearing from you soon.

Yours faithfully,

Arti Patel

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 7.0

The letter successfully addresses all three bullet points of the prompt. You clearly describe the failure of the collection system, explain the negative impact on your neighborhood (smell, animals, health risks), and provide a clear suggestion for resolution. The tone is appropriate for a formal letter to a local council, and the purpose is clear from the outset. The ideas are well-developed and relevant, meeting the requirements for a Band 7.0. To reach a higher band, you could provide slightly more specific detail about the location or the specific type of waste, which would further enhance the development of your ideas.

Coherence and Cohesion — Band 7.0

The letter is logically organized with a clear introduction, body paragraphs, and a conclusion. You use cohesive devices such as 'however', 'moreover', and 'also' to link your ideas effectively. Paragraphing is used appropriately to separate the problem description from the request for action. The progression of ideas is smooth, and the referencing is clear throughout. While the flow is good, some of the transitions are slightly repetitive, such as the use of 'moreover' twice in the same paragraph. Using a wider variety of linking words would improve the overall cohesion.

Lexical Resource — Band 6.5

You demonstrate an adequate range of vocabulary for the task, using terms like 'accumulated', 'unpleasant', and 'rupturing' effectively. The language is generally natural and appropriate for a formal complaint. However, there are some minor inaccuracies in word choice, such as 'on regular time' (should be 'on time' or 'at regular intervals') and 'garbage collection system that is not working' (should be 'the garbage collection system'). While these errors do not impede communication, they prevent the response from reaching a higher band. Expanding your range of collocations would further strengthen this area.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 6.5

You use a mix of simple and complex sentence structures, which is appropriate for this task. There are some grammatical slips, such as 'since the past two weeks' (should be 'for the past two weeks') and 'it causes several issues to me' (should be 'it is causing several issues for me'). Additionally, 'on every Friday' is incorrect; it should simply be 'every Friday'. Despite these errors, your meaning is always clear, and the grammar does not hinder the reader's understanding. To improve, focus on preposition usage and verb tense consistency when discussing ongoing issues.

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

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