Band 6.5 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 6.5 · Cambridge IELTS 13 · 2026-08-27

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/Madam,

I am writing to you regarding the garbage collection system which is not working, and it is giving me and my neighbours a hard time to settle garbage.

There is no exact time or day when rubbish collection workers come to our area. Because of this inconsistency, People are unable to throw their garbage. Every one is working and busy in their professional life; therefore, they do not have time to wait at home for a whole day to garbage truck to come.

Because of this, we are not able to throw our garbage, as a result, people have more rubbish at home. we have been facing this problem for last one month. Due to large collection of rubbish, there is smell in our area.

We would be very thankful to you if you could solve this problem quickly. If you could fix timing and fix days to collect garbage, it would be great. Furthermore, there should be updates on public holidays on notice board, thereby, people will know in advance.

I hope you will understand and solve this problem immediately,

Yours sincerely,

Harshpreet Singh

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 7.0

The letter addresses all three bullet points of the prompt. You clearly describe the inconsistency of the collection service, explain the negative impact on residents, and provide reasonable suggestions for improvement. The tone is appropriate for a formal letter to a council. To reach a higher band, ensure your ideas are slightly more developed; for instance, you could elaborate on the health risks caused by the smell or specify the exact type of notice board updates you expect. Overall, the response is well-focused and fulfills the requirements of the task effectively.

Coherence and Cohesion — Band 6.5

The letter is logically organized with a clear introduction, body paragraphs, and a closing. Each paragraph focuses on a specific aspect of the prompt. You use some cohesive devices such as 'Because of this,' 'as a result,' and 'furthermore' to link your ideas. However, the flow could be improved by using a wider variety of linking words and ensuring that transitions between sentences are smoother. Some sentences feel slightly disjointed, and the punctuation in the final paragraph is a bit informal. Overall, the progression of ideas is clear and easy to follow.

Lexical Resource — Band 6.0

You use a sufficient range of vocabulary to convey your message clearly, such as 'inconsistency,' 'professional life,' and 'in advance.' However, there are some instances of awkward phrasing, such as 'hard time to settle garbage' and 'large collection of rubbish,' which sound unnatural. To improve, focus on using more precise collocations. For example, instead of 'settle garbage,' 'dispose of waste' or 'manage household refuse' would be more appropriate. The vocabulary is adequate for the task, but lacks the precision and flexibility required for a higher band score.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 6.0

You demonstrate a mix of simple and complex sentence structures. While the meaning is generally clear, there are several grammatical errors, such as 'to garbage truck to come' (should be 'for the garbage truck to come') and 'there is smell in our area' (should be 'there is a bad smell'). Additionally, there are minor issues with article usage and sentence fragments. While these errors do not impede communication, they occur frequently enough to prevent a higher score. Focusing on subject-verb agreement and the correct use of prepositions will help improve your accuracy.

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

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