Band 6.0 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 6.0 · Cambridge IELTS 13 · 2026-09-03

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 hope you are doing well. I am writing this letter to express my dissatisfaction regarding the garbage collection service in our neighbourhood.

To begin with, because of the rainy season the garbage pile up easier and starts smelling easier and earlier than it will in any other season. Additionally, also from some time the collectors are also not doing their job properly and leave some of the garbage behind as it requires additional effort or extra time.

And, because of all of these things the area start smelling bad and also becoming the reason for several diseases and a house for different insects. But, the main issue it is causing is it is affecting the business as people from other locality are not willing to face those issues.

So, can you please either increase the number of rotation in which the rubbish got picked up or either train your employees again.

Please let me know what you think about my suggestion. I will wait for your response

Yours Sincerely

Sam.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 6.5

You have addressed all three bullet points required by the task: describing the problem, explaining the impact, 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 the impact on business, it is not fully explained how the garbage issue specifically affects local commerce. To reach a higher band, ensure that your points are expanded with more specific detail or examples. The structure is clear, and the purpose of the letter is evident from the start, meeting the requirements for a formal complaint.

Coherence and Cohesion — Band 6.0

The letter is logically organized into paragraphs, each serving a distinct purpose. You use some cohesive devices such as 'To begin with', 'Additionally', and 'So' to guide the reader. However, the flow between sentences is occasionally mechanical. For example, the transition 'And, because of all of these things' is slightly informal and repetitive. Furthermore, the use of referencing could be improved; in some places, it is unclear what 'it' refers to. Improving the variety of linking words and ensuring smoother transitions between ideas would help elevate this score.

Lexical Resource — Band 6.0

You have a sufficient range of vocabulary to communicate your message clearly. You use relevant terms like 'garbage collection service', 'neighbourhood', and 'diseases'. However, there are some inaccuracies in word choice and collocation. For example, 'garbage pile up easier' should be 'garbage piles up more quickly', and 'increase the number of rotation' is not the standard collocation; 'increase the frequency of collections' would be more natural. There is also some repetition of basic words. To improve, try to incorporate more precise adjectives and nouns related to urban services and environmental issues.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 5.5

You demonstrate a mix of simple and complex sentence structures. While your meaning is generally clear, there are several grammatical errors that occur throughout the text. For instance, 'the area start smelling' should be 'the area starts smelling', and 'also from some time' is an awkward construction. There are also issues with subject-verb agreement and word order, such as 'the garbage got picked up'. While these errors do not prevent the reader from understanding your message, they are frequent enough to impact the overall fluency. Focusing on subject-verb agreement and consistent tense usage will help improve your accuracy.

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

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