Band 6.5 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 6.5 · Cambridge IELTS 13 · 2026-09-29

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 6.5)

Dear Sir or Madam,

I am writing this letter to seek your attention upon the garbage collection services in our society. Although the service was well organized in the past, currently there are some lapses in the garbage collection system. For instance, bins are not gathered at the scheduled day which leads to create some problems especially it causes fruit flies, mosquitoes, raccoons and other animals often damage the litter as well as throw it here and there. Consequently, it results in uncleanliness and seems unprofessional.

Being a member of society, I am getting complaints from people who lives in the colony. To solve this problem, some reasonable actions should be taken by you such as either you can give notice to the rubbish collection agency or change the contract with other service providers.

It would be appreciated, If you take some appropriate steps to keep the area clean.

Yours faithfully,

Nikhil.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response: Band 7.0

The candidate successfully addresses all three bullet points required in the task instructions. First, the problem with the rubbish collection system is clearly described, noting that bins are not collected on scheduled days. Second, the impact on the neighbourhood is explained, highlighting the presence of pests like fruit flies, mosquitoes, and raccoons, which scatter the litter and cause uncleanliness. Finally, actionable suggestions are provided to resolve the issue, such as giving notice to the collection agency or changing service providers. The tone is appropriate for a letter to a local council, maintaining a formal and polite register throughout. All parts of the prompt are well-covered, fulfilling the requirements for a higher band.

Coherence and Cohesion: Band 7.0

The letter exhibits a clear overall progression and logical organisation. The response starts with a standard salutation, moves through the description of the problem, the impacts, the community feedback, and suggestions, and concludes appropriately with a sign-off. Cohesive devices are used adequately to connect ideas, such as 'Although', 'For instance', 'Consequently', and 'To solve this problem'. Paragraphing is used sufficiently to separate the introduction, body explanation, and concluding suggestions. Although some transitions are slightly mechanical, the structure remains coherent and easy to follow throughout.

Lexical Resource: Band 6.0

The candidate demonstrates an adequate range of vocabulary suitable for a general transactional letter, using terms such as 'scheduled day', 'uncleanliness', 'unprofessional', and 'service providers'. However, there are some minor lexical errors and awkward collocations, such as 'seek your attention upon' instead of 'draw your attention to', and 'people who lives in the colony' where 'lives' should be plural. While attempts are made to use less common vocabulary, inaccuracies in word choice prevent the score from reaching a higher band. Nevertheless, communication is never impeded by these lexical slips.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy: Band 6.0

The candidate displays a mix of simple and complex sentence structures, including conditional and subordinate clauses (e.g., 'Although the service was well organized...', 'To solve this problem, some reasonable actions should be taken...'). There are some grammatical errors and awkward phrasing, such as 'bins are not gathered at the scheduled day which leads to create some problems', where 'leads to creating' or 'results in' would be more accurate, as well as a comma splice in the final sentence ('It would be appreciated, If you take...'). Despite these occasional errors, the meaning remains clear, and the grammar is sufficient for effective communication.

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

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