Band 6.0 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 6.0 · Cambridge IELTS 13 · 2026-09-16

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/Madam,

I am writing you to complain regarding the trash collecting system which is causing lot of trouble in our neighborhood.

The garbage collecting system is not updated because we have noticed the previous team who used to do commendable work are no longer working for you and the current team is not doing their job seriously.

We have noticed that the current team is just throwing away the rubbish without any proper handling which unfortunately leaves half of the trash by the roadside and leading to the awful odour the very next day and feeling us uneasy.

We would like to request you to look into the matter and resolve it on urgent basis as we no longer can afford to live in an unhealthy environment.In addition to it, We would appreciate if you provide basic work etiquette to your employees to keep the environment clean and tidy.

We are looking forward to hearing from you.

Regards,

Shaima

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 6.5

The letter covers all bullet points required by the prompt in a clear and appropriate format. The opening purpose is stated clearly, the operational failures of the garbage collection are described, the negative impacts on neighbours are explained, and a constructive suggestion is made. For example, the writer mentions that the new team is 'throwing away the rubbish without any proper handling' and details the consequences such as 'awful odour' and an 'unhealthy environment'. The tone is consistently formal and suitable for a complaint letter to a local council. Ideas are well-supported and relevant to the task, aligning well with the Band 7 descriptors.

Coherence and Cohesion — Band 6.0

The letter exhibits a clear logical progression from the statement of purpose to the description of the problem, its effects, and finally the requested solutions. Paragraphing is used appropriately to separate distinct ideas, such as the operational issues versus the personal impacts. Cohesive devices are employed reasonably well, as seen with transition phrases like 'In addition to it'. However, some referencing and linking could be smoother to elevate the flow further. For instance, linking the sentences about the garbage handlers more tightly would improve overall cohesion. Overall, the organisation is coherent and easy to follow, supporting a solid Band 6.5 or 7.0 rating.

Lexical Resource — Band 5.5

The student demonstrates an adequate and generally appropriate range of vocabulary for this task type. Words and phrases such as 'commendable work', 'work etiquette', and 'unhealthy environment' show a good attempt at less common lexical items. However, there are some minor inaccuracies in word choice and collocation, such as writing 'complaining regarding' instead of 'complaining about', or 'feeling us uneasy' instead of 'making us feel uneasy'. Spelling is accurate throughout the text. While the vocabulary is sufficient to convey the message clearly with some precision, these minor collocation errors keep the score within the Band 6 range.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 5.5

The writer uses a mix of simple and complex sentence structures, such as relative clauses ('who used to do commendable work') and conditional or temporal dependent clauses. There are some grammatical errors present, such as 'I am writing you to complain' (missing the preposition 'to') and 'on urgent basis' (missing the article 'an'). Furthermore, the sentence starting with 'leading to the awful odour' lacks a proper subject or finite verb connection. Despite these errors, they rarely impede communication, and the meaning remains clear throughout the letter. The control of grammar corresponds well to the Band 6 descriptors.

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

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