Band 7.5 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 7.5 · Cambridge IELTS 13 · 2026-09-26

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 concern about the garbage collection service in the Sabzazar neighbourhood.

For the past month, the garbage collection truck has not been following the scheduled collection days consistently. As a result, rubbish often remains in the outdoor bins for several days, causing waste to pile up outside our houses.

This has led to a noticeable increase in the number of stray animals on the residential streets. The presence of dogs and cats has made some residents reluctant to go outside for walks, particularly in the evenings. In addition, the unpleasant smell from the accumulated rubbish can become unbearable, especially during warmer weather.

I would suggest ensuring that collection vehicles follow the scheduled collection days without delay. It may also be helpful to introduce a digital monitoring system that reminds collection teams which streets are due to be serviced each day. This could reduce missed collections and prevent the problem from recurring.

I would appreciate it if you could look into this matter at your earliest convenience. I look forward to your response.

Yours faithfully,

Sam Khan

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response: Band 7.5

The response fully addresses all parts of the task in a very natural and appropriate tone. For the first bullet point, the student clearly describes the malfunction by explaining that 'the garbage collection truck has not been following the scheduled collection days consistently.' For the second bullet point, the impact on neighbours and the writer is well-illustrated through the increase in stray animals and the unbearable smell. Finally, for the third bullet point, practical solutions are offered, including ensuring timely collections and introducing a digital monitoring system. The tone is consistently polite and formal, perfectly fitting a letter to a local council. Ideas are fully developed without any irrelevant details.

Coherence and Cohesion: Band 7.5

The letter is exceptionally well-structured and easy to follow. Ideas are logically sequenced, moving naturally from the problem statement to the negative consequences, followed by constructive suggestions and a courteous closing. Paragraphing is used appropriately and effectively, with each body paragraph dedicated to a single, distinct aspect of the prompt (the issue, the impact, the solutions). Cohesive devices are used naturally and unobtrusively, such as 'For the past month', 'As a result', 'This has led to', and 'In addition'. Reference pronouns like 'This' and 'These' are handled accurately, ensuring the flow of information remains smooth and coherent throughout.

Lexical Resource: Band 7.5

The student demonstrates a wide and flexible vocabulary range suited to a formal complaint letter. Appropriate collocation and less common lexical items are used effectively, such as 'express my concern', 'scheduled collection days', 'accumulated rubbish', and 'at your earliest convenience'. Word choice is precise, and there are no noticeable spelling or lexical errors. While the vocabulary does not reach the absolute highest level of sophistication seen in academic essays, it shows very natural control and fully supports the purpose of communication with accurate styling.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy: Band 7.5

The response exhibits a wide range of grammatical structures used with a high degree of accuracy. The majority of sentences are completely error-free. The student successfully incorporates complex sentence forms, such as participle clauses ('causing waste to pile up outside our houses') and conditional or temporal framing ('especially during warmer weather', 'reluctant to go outside for walks, particularly in the evenings'). Punctuation is accurate, and subject-verb agreement is maintained throughout. Only very minor slips could possibly separate this from a top-tier band, but overall control of grammar is exemplary.

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