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 am writing this to express my dissatisfaction with the current system of waste collection in my society.

According to this garbage removal system all the members of the society has to empty their household garbage in the big container located in front of the main road. But this system is not functioning properly as sometimes the container gets completely filled with rubbish and still the garbage collector are not replacing the container. As a result, waste starts to overflow out of the garbage container that looks really dirty. Not only but also with passage of time it starts to smell and can lead to harmful disease to nearby living people.

I would like to give you some suggestion to eliminate this issue. Firstly, a schedule should be introduced to garbage collecting worker so that they can empty the container in timely manner. Secondly, different garbage bins should be placed to separate the green and recyclable waste that could be beneficial to the surrounding environment.

I hope you will take this matter into consideration as soon as possible.

Yours faithfully,

D

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 7.0

The letter addresses all three bullet points of the prompt effectively. You clearly describe the overflowing container, explain the negative impact on health and hygiene, and provide two logical suggestions for improvement. The tone is appropriate for a formal letter to a local council. To reach a higher band, you could expand slightly on the 'impact' section by describing how it specifically affects your daily life or your neighbours' ability to use the area, rather than just mentioning the smell and potential disease. Overall, the response is well-focused and fulfills the requirements of the task.

Coherence and Cohesion — Band 6.5

The letter is logically organized with a clear introduction, body paragraphs, and a formal closing. You use basic cohesive devices such as 'Firstly' and 'Secondly' to structure your suggestions, which helps the reader follow your argument. However, the transition between the problem description and the impact could be smoother. For example, the phrase 'Not only but also' is used incorrectly; it should be 'Not only does it look dirty, but with the passage of time, it also starts to smell.' Improving the variety and accuracy of your linking words would enhance the flow of the letter.

Lexical Resource — Band 6.0

You demonstrate an adequate range of vocabulary for the task, using terms like 'dissatisfaction', 'functioning properly', and 'recyclable waste'. There are some minor errors in word choice and collocation, such as 'garbage collecting worker' (should be 'garbage collection staff' or 'sanitation workers') and 'nearby living people' (should be 'local residents'). While the vocabulary is sufficient to convey your meaning clearly, it lacks the precision and flexibility required for higher bands. Incorporating more sophisticated collocations related to urban management would improve your score.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 6.0

You use a mix of simple and complex sentence structures. There are several grammatical slips, such as subject-verb agreement errors ('all the members... has to' should be 'have to') and the incorrect use of 'garbage collector are' (should be 'garbage collectors are'). Additionally, 'lead to harmful disease to nearby living people' is slightly awkward; 'pose a health risk to local residents' would be more natural. While these errors do not impede communication, they occur frequently enough to prevent a higher score. Focusing on subject-verb agreement and prepositional usage will help improve your accuracy.

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

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