Band 7.5 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 7.5 · Cambridge IELTS 13 · 2026-09-10

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 this letter to complain about the rubbish collection system at downtown Sydney. Since the downtown area attracts various tourists, it is not allowed to leave the dustbins outside the houses. One person from every household has to wait for the collection team to hand over the garbage bags personally. However, every week, the collection truck reaches late which cause considerable inconvenience. Sometimes, they refuse to take all the rubbish which makes the situation worse.

This inefficient rubbish pick-up system causes several difficulties. Firstly, the society members are quite unsatisfied with the dismissive attitude of workers as they behave rudely when they are questioned about the delay. Moreover, it is ruining our area's reputation because visitors feel uncomfortable and unwelcomed due to untidy surroundings.

However, several steps could be taken to mitigate these problems. The most effective solution could be increasing the number of vehicles for garbage pick-up to avoid delays. Also, the clear updates should be provided online regarding the estimated timing of rubbish collection.

I hope that an adequate action would be taken to alleviate this issue in our local area.

Yours faithfully,

Jashanpreet Kaur

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 7.5

You have successfully addressed all three bullet points in the prompt. You clearly described the current system, explained the negative impact on residents and the area's reputation, and provided logical suggestions for improvement. The tone is appropriate for a formal letter to a council. The ideas are well-developed and relevant, and the letter follows a clear, logical structure. To reach a higher band, ensure that you fully expand on the 'why' behind your suggestions to demonstrate a more nuanced understanding of the situation, but overall, this is a very solid response that meets all requirements.

Coherence and Cohesion — Band 8.0

The letter is well-organized with a clear introduction, body paragraphs, and a conclusion. You use cohesive devices effectively, such as 'However', 'Moreover', and 'Firstly', which help guide the reader through your arguments. Paragraphing is used appropriately to separate the different points of the letter. The progression of ideas is logical, moving from the problem to the impact and finally to the proposed solutions. The referencing is clear throughout, and the letter maintains a consistent formal tone from start to finish.

Lexical Resource — Band 7.0

You demonstrate a good range of vocabulary appropriate for a formal complaint letter, such as 'considerable inconvenience', 'inefficient', 'mitigate', and 'alleviate'. There are no significant spelling errors, and your word choices are generally precise. While the vocabulary is sufficient and accurate, incorporating a few more sophisticated collocations or idiomatic expressions related to civic issues could elevate the response further. Overall, your lexical control is strong and supports the clarity of your message effectively.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 7.5

You use a good mix of simple and complex sentence structures. Most of your sentences are error-free, and your control over punctuation is generally good. There are a few minor slips, such as 'the clear updates should be provided' (where 'the' is unnecessary) and 'an adequate action' (where 'adequate' is slightly unnatural in this context; 'appropriate' or 'prompt' would be better). However, these errors are infrequent and do not impede communication. Your grammar is consistent and supports the formal tone of the letter well.

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

Browse more IELTS Writing model answers or get your own writing scored by the same AI examiner.