Band 7.5 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 7.5 · Cambridge IELTS 13 · 2026-09-07

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 7.5)

Dear Sir or Madam,

I am writing to express my dissatisfaction with the operations of the North Manchester City Council's waste collection system, with particular concern regarding the disposal management at Central Apartment Complex located at Croft Close, postcode MN12.

To explain, the garbage trucks are scheduled to collect the recycle waste placed in designated black trash bins every Mondays and Thursdays. However, they frequently do not come. Moreover, the trucks scheduled for general rubbish on Wednesdays placed inside blue trash bins are often late, arriving at 4:30 in the evening.

Unfortunately, this disorganized arrangement is making the community agitated with the unpredictable timeframes for the collection trucks. Given the warm weather, the food waste also rots quickly. Consequently, flies are rampant, burdening me and the neighbors.

In light of this, not only should a proper truck timetable be set for our community, but also measures should be taken to ensure that it is strictly enforced. In addition, a designated officer should be appointed who would take official responsibility for overseeing the disposal managements.

If you require any further information, please do not hesitate to contact me.

Yours faithfully,

Zaina Bjunaid

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 8.0

You have successfully addressed all three bullet points in the prompt. You clearly described the issues with the collection schedule, explained the negative impact on the residents, and provided logical suggestions for improvement. The tone is appropriate for a formal letter to a council, and the purpose is clear from the outset. The ideas are well-developed and relevant to the task. To reach a higher band, you could provide slightly more specific detail regarding the 'measures' to be taken or the 'disposal management' process to further demonstrate your ability to expand on ideas.

Coherence and Cohesion — Band 8.0

The letter is well-organized with a clear logical progression. Each paragraph focuses on a specific aspect of the task, and the use of cohesive devices such as 'Moreover', 'Consequently', and 'In light of this' helps the reader follow your argument easily. The paragraphing is appropriate, and the flow between the problem description and the proposed solution is smooth. The referencing is clear throughout, and the letter maintains a professional tone from start to finish.

Lexical Resource — Band 7.0

You demonstrate a good range of vocabulary appropriate for a formal complaint letter. Phrases like 'express my dissatisfaction', 'disorganized arrangement', and 'burdening me' are used effectively. There are some minor collocation issues, such as 'disposal managements' (should be 'management') and 'recycle waste' (should be 'recyclable waste'). However, these do not impede communication. To improve, try to incorporate more sophisticated collocations or idiomatic formal expressions to show a wider range of lexical control.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 7.5

You use a mix of simple and complex sentence structures effectively. The grammar is generally accurate, and your control over punctuation is good. There are a few minor errors, such as 'every Mondays' (should be 'every Monday') and 'the neighbors' (which is fine, but 'my neighbors' would be more natural). These are non-systematic errors that do not affect the clarity of your message. The majority of your sentences are error-free, which is a strong indicator of your current proficiency level.

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