Band 6.0 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 6.0 · Cambridge IELTS 13 · 2026-08-30

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 6.0)

Dear Sir or Madam,

I am writing regarding the garbage collection system in Woodwind area which is not working properly. This leads to some issues to the community.

Even though, the garbage collection hours and days are fixed. However, locals are witnessed regarding missing hours and days by the garbage collection system. In addition, employees miss some garbage bins to empty them up.

This issues create a big problem in the neighbourhood because of over filled garbage bins and it spreads smell and bacterial diseases.

This problem should be focused as soon as possible. Clear and strict guidelines should be promoted for the workers and the locals as well. Moreover, Complete formal training should be given to the staff as they should aware about the consequences of the problem.

Thank you for your time and consideration. I look forward for the prompt action towards the issue.

Yours faithfully,

Simon Ross.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 6.0

You have addressed all three bullet points of the task: describing the system failure, explaining the impact on the community, and suggesting solutions. The tone is appropriate for a formal letter to a council. However, the development of ideas is somewhat limited. For instance, while you mention 'bacterial diseases' and 'smell', expanding slightly on the specific frequency of the missed collections or the duration of the problem would have provided a more comprehensive response. The letter is clear and the purpose is immediately apparent, meeting the requirements for a Band 6.0.

Coherence and Cohesion — Band 6.0

The letter is logically organized into paragraphs, each addressing a specific part of the prompt. You use some cohesive devices such as 'In addition', 'Moreover', and 'Even though'. However, there are some issues with the use of these devices. For example, starting a sentence with 'Even though' followed by 'However' is grammatically redundant and creates a disjointed flow. The referencing is generally clear, but the transition between ideas could be smoother to improve the overall progression of the letter.

Lexical Resource — Band 6.0

Your vocabulary is adequate for the task, allowing you to communicate the problem clearly. You use some relevant terms like 'garbage collection', 'neighbourhood', and 'consequences'. However, there are some inaccuracies in word choice and collocation, such as 'locals are witnessed regarding missing hours' (which is unnatural) and 'empty them up' (which is informal). To reach a higher band, you should aim for more precise collocations and a wider range of vocabulary to describe the situation more professionally.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 5.5

You demonstrate a mix of simple and complex sentence structures. There are several grammatical errors throughout the text, such as 'This issues create' (subject-verb agreement error), 'as they should aware' (missing verb 'be'), and 'I look forward for the prompt action' (incorrect preposition). While these errors are noticeable, they do not impede the overall meaning of your letter. To improve, focus on subject-verb agreement and the correct use of prepositions and modal verbs.

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

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