Band 6.0 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 6.0 · 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 6.0)

Dear Sir,

I am writing to inform you that as a resident of Sundry County UK, we have noted that the rubbish/garbage collection system has malfunctioned since the last two weeks.

This has affected the environment, as the spillover of the garbage, which are lying on the road with decomposition of fruits/vegetable has permeated residence with foul smell. This impacts the daily stroll down the road to the grocery store or standing outside the balcony for fresh air. Similarly, my neighbours' children are not able to play on the playground next to the road given the continuing spillover of garbage and foul smell.

This is impacting the whole area, and the local council need to intervene with immediate cleaning of the residual garbage on the roads and kerbsides. The next critical subject is to fix the garbage collection system and to repair it on urgent basis to arrest the on-going spillover. Appreciate if you can address the problem immediately to make the Sundry County residence breathe fresh air.

Yours Sincerely,

John Jacker Micheal

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 6.5

You have successfully addressed all three bullet points in the prompt. You clearly described the malfunctioning system, explained the negative impact on the environment and the community, and provided specific suggestions for the council to resolve the issue. The tone is appropriate for a formal letter to a local authority. To reach a higher band, ensure that your opening and closing salutations are consistent; you began with 'Dear Sir' but the prompt provided 'Dear Sir or Madam', and your sign-off should ideally match the formality of the opening. Overall, the ideas are well-developed and the purpose of the letter is clear throughout.

Coherence and Cohesion — Band 6.0

The letter follows a logical progression, moving from the problem description to its effects and finally to the proposed solutions. Paragraphing is used to separate these distinct ideas, which helps the reader follow your argument. You use some cohesive devices, such as 'Similarly' and 'This is impacting', to link your sentences. 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 connection between the problem and the suggested solution could be more tightly integrated.

Lexical Resource — Band 6.0

You demonstrate an adequate range of vocabulary for the task, using terms like 'malfunctioned', 'decomposition', 'permeated', and 'kerbsides' effectively. There are some minor issues with word choice and collocation, such as 'since the last two weeks' (should be 'for the last two weeks') and 'arrest the on-going spillover' (which is slightly unnatural in this context). While your vocabulary is sufficient to convey your meaning clearly, incorporating more precise collocations or idiomatic expressions related to formal complaints would elevate your score. The spelling is generally accurate throughout the response.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 5.5

You use a mix of simple and complex sentence structures, which is appropriate for this task. There are some grammatical inaccuracies, such as 'the garbage, which are lying' (should be 'which is lying' to agree with the singular 'garbage') and 'the local council need to intervene' (should be 'needs to intervene'). Additionally, the phrase 'Appreciate if you can' is missing a subject ('I would appreciate'). While these errors are present, they do not impede communication. To improve, focus on subject-verb agreement and ensuring that your complex sentences are punctuated correctly to avoid minor slips.

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

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