Band 5.5 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 5.5 · 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 5.5)

Dear Sir or Madam

I am writing to express my concern regarding garbage collection system in my locality which is not properly operating correctly for the past three weeks.

This issue is very big while the waste is scheduled to pick every Tuesday in the morning, the municipal trucks are failed to arrive from past three weeks and collect it. The garbage bins are fully loaded and and most of people through garbage on the roads and footpath. This situation is very serious because it creates bad odor and diseases to our locality people.

I strongly suggest that the council system to resolve this matters soon as possible and dispatches an emergency collection vehicle immediately to clear the block of garbage. Additionally, investigate the breakdown of schedulzing system for the future.

Thank you for your attention regarding to this serious issue and resolve it.

Yours Faithfully,

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 5.5

The letter addresses all three bullet points: describing the system failure, explaining the impact, and suggesting solutions. However, the response is under the 150-word minimum, which negatively impacts the task achievement score. While the ideas are relevant, they are somewhat underdeveloped. For instance, the impact on neighbours is mentioned briefly but could have been expanded to provide a more comprehensive picture of the situation. To improve, ensure you meet the word count requirement and provide slightly more detail for each point to fully develop your ideas.

Coherence and Cohesion — Band 6.0

The letter is organized into logical paragraphs, which helps the reader follow the progression of the complaint. However, the use of cohesive devices is somewhat mechanical and limited. For example, the transition between the problem description and the impact is abrupt. There are also some minor issues with referencing and flow, such as the repetitive use of 'garbage' and 'this'. To improve, try using a wider variety of linking words and phrases to connect your sentences and ideas more fluidly, ensuring that the transition between paragraphs feels natural rather than forced.

Lexical Resource — Band 5.5

The vocabulary is generally adequate for the task, but it lacks the range and precision expected at higher bands. There are some awkward collocations and word choices, such as 'garbage collection system... operating correctly' and 'locality people'. The repetition of the word 'garbage' throughout the text also limits the lexical variety. To improve, aim to use more sophisticated synonyms and collocations, such as 'refuse collection services', 'sanitation issues', or 'residents of the area', to demonstrate a more flexible and precise command of the English language.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 5.5

The response contains a mix of simple and complex sentence structures, but there are frequent grammatical errors that occasionally impede the flow. Examples include 'the municipal trucks are failed to arrive' (incorrect verb tense/passive voice), 'most of people through garbage' (should be 'throw'), and 'regarding to this serious issue' (incorrect preposition). While the meaning is generally clear, these errors are noticeable. To improve, focus on mastering subject-verb agreement and the correct use of prepositions, and try to incorporate more complex sentence structures with greater accuracy.

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

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