Band 6.5 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 6.5 · Cambridge IELTS 13 · 2026-09-01

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 would like to formally report the failure of the rubbish collection system in the Downtown, Nanaimo. Due to the piling of garbage it is developing foul smell and making the neighbourhood very unpleasant to live. I hope this issue gets resolved immediately.

In the current system, both the dry and wet garbage are collected every once in a week. However, the garbage collection is irregular; quite often, garbage trucks does not show up. Furthermore, the truck is almost full by the time it reaches our area to collect garbage and sometimes there are leftovers that could not fit in the truck.

When the wet garbage bin is not cleared on time, it is developing a strong foul smell which is creating unpleasant living environment. Additionally, it poses a health risk to the children playing at the playground which is adjacent to the garbage collection location. Moreover, when there is a strong wind, the dry waste gets scattered all over the parking lot which is making the community very untidy.

Therefore, it would be very helpful if you could kindly make those involved to strictly follow the garbage collection schedule. Moreover, procuring a larger garbage truck could accommodate more garbage and none is left behind.

Sincerely,

Lims

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 7.0

You have addressed all three bullet points of the task effectively. You described the failure of the collection system, explained the negative impact on the community and health, and provided clear suggestions 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 in Downtown, Nanaimo. To reach a higher band, ensure that the opening and closing are fully integrated into the flow of the letter, and consider expanding slightly on the 'why' behind your suggestions to demonstrate a more sophisticated level of argumentation.

Coherence and Cohesion — Band 7.0

The letter is logically organized, with each paragraph focusing on a specific aspect of the prompt. You use cohesive devices such as 'Furthermore', 'Additionally', 'Moreover', and 'Therefore' to link your ideas. However, some of these transitions feel slightly mechanical or repetitive in their placement at the start of sentences. The paragraphing is clear and appropriate for a formal letter. To improve, try to vary the structure of your sentences so that the flow between ideas feels more natural and less reliant on standard linking words.

Lexical Resource — Band 6.5

You demonstrate an adequate range of vocabulary for the task, using terms like 'formally report', 'unpleasant', 'adjacent', and 'procuring'. There are some minor issues with collocation, such as 'piling of garbage' (better: 'accumulation of garbage') and 'making the neighbourhood very unpleasant' (better: 'rendering the neighbourhood unpleasant'). While the vocabulary is sufficient to convey your meaning clearly, it lacks the 'less common' or 'precise' lexical items that would push the score into the 8.0 range. Focusing on more natural collocations will help improve your precision.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 6.0

You use a mix of simple and complex sentence structures. There are several grammatical errors, such as 'garbage trucks does not show up' (subject-verb agreement) and 'it is developing foul smell' (missing article 'a'). Additionally, 'making the community very untidy' is a fragment when used as you have written it. While these errors do not impede communication, they occur frequently enough to prevent a higher score. You should focus on subject-verb agreement and the correct use of articles to ensure your writing is more accurate.

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

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