Band 5.5 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 5.5 · Cambridge IELTS 13 · 2026-09-17

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 5.5)

Dear Sir,

I am writing this letter to inform about how the garbage collection system is working in our area.

Few days ago, a garbage truck took old garbage bin for it's repairment of it's lid which is not replaced by new garbage bin also not returned by the system workers. because of that people around this area putting their bags on a side. Those bags are filled with waste food and lots of smelly garbage which make air pollution near it, that is not only making really harmful for the reputation of our area but also for heath of our family child and my neighbours' as well.

To solve this issue quickly i request for new garbage bin, if older one can not be repaired. Else we demand for garbage collecting truck for small rubbish. I expect this problem to be solved by within two days for our heath safety also adding this problem as a really not well for anyone does not happen again in the future.

sincerely,

Het Patel

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 6.0

The letter covers all three bullet points required in the task prompt. You described the rubbish collection problem by explaining that the old garbage bin was taken away for lid repair and never returned. You also explained the impact on you and your neighbours, noting that accumulated bags cause air pollution and affect health. Finally, you suggested a solution by asking for a new bin or an alternative collection method. However, some parts of your ideas are slightly unclear and under-developed, particularly the final sentence of your second paragraph regarding air pollution and the specific demands in the third paragraph. Despite these minor limitations, the purpose of the letter is clear and all requirements are addressed, aligning well with the Band 6 descriptors.

Coherence and Cohesion — Band 6.0

The letter has a coherent overall arrangement and follows a logical structure typical of a formal complaint letter. You use appropriate paragraphs to separate the introduction, the problem details, and your suggested solutions. However, cohesion is sometimes faulty or mechanical. For instance, the transition between sentences in the second paragraph lacks smooth linking devices, and referencing is occasionally unclear, such as 'it's repairment of it's lid which is not replaced by new garbage bin also not returned'. Paragraphing is present and appropriate for a short letter, but the logical progression between ideas could be smoother. Overall, the organisation is sufficient for a Band 6 score.

Lexical Resource — Band 5.0

Your vocabulary is adequate for the task, allowing you to communicate your message about the missing garbage bin and health concerns. You attempt some less common items such as 'air pollution', 'reputation', and 'health safety', but there are noticeable word choice and collocation errors, such as 'repairment' instead of 'repair', 'taking old garbage bin' missing articles, and 'making really harmful for the reputation'. Spelling and word-formation errors occasionally occur (e.g., 'heath' instead of 'health'), but these do not impede overall communication. The lexical range and accuracy fit the Band 5 criteria well.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 5.0

You make an attempt at a mix of simple and complex sentence structures, such as using subordinate clauses beginning with 'because of that' and 'if older one can not be repaired'. However, there are frequent grammatical errors, particularly with missing articles ('a garbage truck', 'the lid'), incorrect verb forms ('is not working', 'is not replaced'), and punctuation or capitalization issues ('i', 'sincerely'). Complex sentence attempts often contain structural flaws and run-on phrasing, which can cause some difficulty for the reader. These persistent errors place your grammatical control firmly at Band 5.

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

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