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 or Madam,

I hope this letter finds you well. I am writing this letter to complain about the rubbish collection system, which is becoming poorer day by day and causing many problems for residents.

Actually, the garbage was collected every Tuesday in Abbotsford; however, over the last two weeks, the garbage truck has not come every week. Moreover, our house bins are completely full of garbage, and yesterday my neighbour's bin was broken due to the heavy weight. Moreover, due to the garbage around my house, there are so many insects. This issue affects not only my neighbours but also me, as garbage is also on the road, which damages the beauty of our town. Furthermore, residents cannot sit outside their homes to get fresh air because of the odour. In addition, my children used to play in the backyard, but now I need to bring them to the park every day for outdoor activities.

I would like to request that you please arrange a meeting with the organization that collects rubbish from our town. So they can come every week to collect the garbage. Apart from this, you should find an alternative solution for this issue.

I hope you will take action soon to solve this issue.

Yours faithfully,

Harjinder Kaur

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 7.0

You have successfully addressed all three bullet points in the prompt. You clearly described the failure of the rubbish collection system, explained the negative impact on your household and neighbours, and provided a logical suggestion for improvement. The tone is appropriate for a formal letter to a local council. The ideas are well-developed and relevant, providing a clear picture of the situation. To reach a higher band, ensure that your suggestions are slightly more detailed, perhaps by proposing a specific timeline for the requested meeting or a follow-up action if the problem persists.

Coherence and Cohesion — Band 7.0

The letter is logically organized with a clear introduction, body paragraphs, and a formal closing. You use cohesive devices such as 'however', 'moreover', 'furthermore', and 'in addition' to connect your ideas. While the flow is generally good, the repetition of 'moreover' and 'in addition' makes the transitions feel slightly mechanical. To improve, try to vary your linking words and ensure that each paragraph focuses on a single theme to enhance the overall progression of your argument.

Lexical Resource — Band 6.0

You demonstrate an adequate range of vocabulary for the task, using terms like 'residents', 'outdoor activities', and 'alternative solution' effectively. However, some word choices are a bit simplistic or repetitive, such as 'poorer day by day' or 'damages the beauty'. To achieve a higher score, aim to incorporate more precise collocations and less common vocabulary. For example, instead of saying the system is 'poorer', you could describe it as 'deteriorating' or 'inconsistent'. Your spelling is accurate throughout the letter.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 6.5

You use a mix of simple and complex sentence structures, which is appropriate for this task. Most of your sentences are clear and error-free, which ensures that your message is easily understood. There are minor issues with article usage and phrasing, such as 'the garbage was collected' (which is fine, but could be more concise) and 'due to the heavy weight' (which could be 'due to the excessive weight'). Your control of punctuation is generally good, and your grammatical errors do not impede communication.

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

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