Band 5.0 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 5.0 · 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 5.0)

Dear sir,

I am living in FCC .sir from last few days the rubbish collection team isn't working properly.There are heaps of rubbish in the surrounding.

It's hot summer.There is humidity and heat all over.It causes the extreme unpleasant smell all over.

Me and my community people have been doing to dump some garbage.Its not in our control Now so I am writing it to you. Many children are suffering from some breathing and skin problems. Please help us to solve this problem.I will be highly thankful to you.

Regards

Rahila Kamil

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 5.0

The response fails to meet the minimum word count requirement of 150 words, reaching only 92 words. Consequently, the ideas are significantly underdeveloped. While you have addressed the three bullet points—describing the issue, explaining the impact, and requesting action—the lack of detail prevents a higher score. To improve, you must expand on your points. For example, instead of simply stating 'rubbish collection isn't working,' you could specify how often it is missed and what specific types of waste are accumulating. Similarly, the impact on the community and the suggested solutions need more elaboration to demonstrate a full response to the task.

Coherence and Cohesion — Band 5.0

The letter is very brief, which makes the overall structure feel fragmented. While there is a basic attempt at paragraphing, the transitions between ideas are abrupt. You rely on very simple sentence structures, and there is a lack of cohesive devices (such as 'consequently,' 'furthermore,' or 'as a result') to link your sentences logically. To improve, focus on using transition words to connect your thoughts and ensure that each paragraph has a clear topic sentence that develops one aspect of the prompt. The current layout is too sparse to demonstrate a range of cohesive devices.

Lexical Resource — Band 5.0

The vocabulary used is functional but very basic and repetitive. Phrases like 'rubbish collection team' and 'not working properly' are used correctly but lack the precision expected at higher levels. There is little attempt to use less common or more sophisticated vocabulary related to environmental issues or formal correspondence. To improve, try to incorporate more descriptive adjectives and formal nouns. For instance, instead of 'unpleasant smell,' you could use 'noxious odors' or 'foul stench.' Expanding your range of vocabulary will help you convey your message with more impact and professional tone.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 5.0

The grammar is generally understandable, but the range of structures is very limited. You rely almost exclusively on simple sentences. There are several errors in punctuation and capitalization, such as 'Dear sir,' (should be 'Dear Sir or Madam,') and the lack of spaces after periods (e.g., 'FCC .sir'). Additionally, there are minor errors in article usage and phrasing, such as 'the extreme unpleasant smell' (should be 'an extremely unpleasant smell'). To improve, practice using complex sentence structures, such as relative clauses or conditional sentences, and pay closer attention to basic punctuation rules.

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

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