Band 6.5 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 6.5 · 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 6.5)

Dear Sir,

I writing this letter to bring it to your attention the concerning issue regarding garbage collection system in our area which is not operating properly.

Usually, garbage wastes has been collected in a truck driven and accompanied by one other personnel which ensures the collection of rubbish. Mostly, those employees ignore the waste has not been going inside the truck properly, owing to it wastes remain on the road making it messier and unhygienic. In addition, in rapidness the garbage bins have been getting damaged which are expensive to replace.

Personally, I am facing a lot of problems along with my neighbours, as foul smell has spread across the street and stray animals like racoons, and rats are roaming on the streets making the area prone to accidents. People are facing health problems such as nausea, head aches, and other respiratory issues.

I would like to make a request to look into this critical matter by deploying more personnel and provide them with proper training so that they perform their duties in a professional way.

I look forward to hearing from you.

Yours Sincerely,

Sarthak Bhardwaj

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 the community, and provide a constructive suggestion for improvement. The tone is appropriate for a formal letter to a local council. To reach a higher band, ensure that your ideas are slightly more developed; for instance, you could elaborate on the specific 'professional training' you suggest. However, the response is well-focused and meets all requirements of the task.

Coherence and Cohesion — Band 7.0

The letter is logically organized with a clear introduction, body paragraphs, and a formal closing. Each paragraph focuses on a specific aspect of the prompt, which helps the reader follow your argument easily. You use some cohesive devices such as 'In addition' and 'Personally', though the flow could be improved with a wider variety of linking words. The paragraphing is appropriate, and the progression of ideas is clear throughout the text, making the letter easy to read and understand.

Lexical Resource — Band 6.0

You demonstrate an adequate range of vocabulary for the task, using terms like 'unhygienic', 'respiratory issues', and 'deploying'. However, there are some minor inaccuracies in word choice and collocation, such as 'in rapidness' (which should be 'due to haste' or 'rushed collection') and 'making it messier' (which is slightly informal). While these errors do not impede communication, expanding your range of collocations and using more precise academic or formal vocabulary would help you achieve a higher score.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 6.0

You use a mix of simple and complex sentence structures. There are several grammatical errors, such as 'I writing this letter' (missing auxiliary verb 'am'), 'garbage wastes has been collected' (subject-verb agreement), and 'the waste has not been going inside' (tense usage). While these errors are noticeable, they do not prevent the reader from understanding your message. To improve, focus on subject-verb agreement and consistent verb tense usage. Increasing the variety of complex sentence structures while maintaining accuracy will help you reach a higher band.

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

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