Band 6.0 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 6.0 · Cambridge IELTS 13 · 2026-09-18

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 am writing this letter to inform you about the irregularity of collecting of garbage in my neighbourhood.

Normally, household waste scheduled to collect once a week but from last month they just come twice a month. sometime, collectors just collect half of the garbage and left some of that on side of the roads. As a result, it start piling up.

Increasing of the garbage piles around ta colony causing inconvenience to me and my neighbours such as it attract flies and insects which effect the hygine of the society. Moreover, smells coming from these garbage make it hard to walk around the area. Children cannot play outside because of foul smell coming from waste materials.

I am requesting you to please look after this issue and find the reason of the cause. Also take proper action against it. Apart from it, inform the locals if garbage days have been changed. Last but not least, send extra trucks to remove huge piles of garbage from the society.

I hope you look after this issue and take necessary steps towards it.

Yours faithfully,

Daljeet

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 7.0

The response successfully covers all the required bullet points from the prompt. You clearly describe how the rubbish collection is failing, noting that collections have dropped to twice a month instead of weekly, and that collectors leave waste behind on the roadsides. You effectively explain the impact on you and your neighbours by mentioning the accumulation of waste, the attraction of flies and insects, the negative effects on hygiene, and the foul smells preventing children from playing outside. Furthermore, you provide clear and logical suggestions for resolving the issue, such as investigating the cause, notifying residents of schedule changes, and sending extra trucks. The tone is appropriate for a formal letter to a local council. Overall, all parts of the task are well-addressed with relevant and fully developed ideas, earning a solid band score for this criterion.

Coherence and Cohesion — Band 6.5

The letter maintains a clear and logical organisation from beginning to end. The text is divided into appropriate paragraphs, each serving a distinct function: introduction, description of the problem, explanation of the consequences, proposed solutions, and a closing statement. Cohesive devices such as 'Moreover', 'As a result', and 'Apart from it' are used to connect ideas, although some transitions feel slightly mechanical or informal. Paragraphing is used sufficiently to structure the letter well. Referencing is generally clear, allowing the reader to follow the progression of thoughts easily without confusion. The overall arrangement is coherent, leading to a respectable score in this category.

Lexical Resource — Band 5.5

The vocabulary used is adequate for the task, though it tends to be quite basic and contains some noticeable word choice and collocation errors. For instance, phrases like 'irregularity of collecting of garbage' and 'effect the hygine' show grammatical and lexical inaccuracies. Words like 'hygine' (hygiene) and 'smells' are repeated. While you attempt some less common vocabulary such as 'inconvenience', 'foul smell', and 'waste materials', frequent errors in word formation and spelling prevent the score from reaching a higher band. However, the language remains understandable throughout, ensuring that communication is not severely impeded.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 5.0

The writing displays a mix of simple and complex sentence forms, demonstrating an attempt at varied grammatical structures. However, there are numerous grammatical errors throughout the response. Examples include 'waste scheduled to collect' (should be 'is scheduled to be collected'), 'sometime, collectors... left some of that on side' (tense inconsistency and missing articles), and 'Increasing of the garbage piles... causing' (awkward gerund construction and missing auxiliary verb). Punctuation and article usage are also inconsistent. These errors require some effort from the reader to interpret certain sentences, placing the grammar squarely within the band 5 descriptor range where frequent errors persist.

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

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