Band 6.0 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 6.0 · Cambridge IELTS 13 · 2026-10-03

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 or Madam,

I am writing to bring to your attention that from the last few days we are facing issues from litter collection system in are society.

Firstly, before this month the litter collecting truck used to come everyday for collecting grabage. However, from this month the collecting vehicle is coming every twice a week. Thus, we have to collect the grabage and keep it outside the house sometimes because it gets overfilled.

As a result, as grabage stays for long time in open, it starts smelling in surrounding which is really stinky. Additionally, Our clothes and other home items absorbs this smell.

I would kindly request to take some serious measure regarding this problem and if kindly possible, send the grabage collection truck every days as it used to be before.

I would look forward to hear from you about the steps take to address this issue.

Thank you.

Yours sincerely.

Maksud Malek

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response: Band 7.0

The response successfully addresses all parts of the prompt, establishing a clear purpose and covering the required bullet points. The issue with the rubbish collection is clearly stated as a reduction in frequency, the negative effects on you and your neighbours are explained well regarding the smell and overfilled bins, and a direct suggestion is made for improvement. The position is maintained throughout with a suitable formal letter opening and closing, although some ideas tend to generalise slightly rather than providing deep extension. To reach a higher band, the ideas could be developed with slightly more specific detail or expanded examples regarding the impact on the local community.

Coherence and Cohesion: Band 6.5

The letter demonstrates a clear overall arrangement with information logically sequenced from the problem statement to the effects and finally the requested action. Paragraphing is used appropriately to separate different points, and cohesive devices are employed to connect ideas, such as 'Firstly', 'However', 'Thus', and 'Additionally'. However, some elements of cohesion feel a bit mechanical or slightly repetitive in transition. Furthermore, referencing is occasionally imprecise, which prevents the response from achieving a fully seamless flow. To move to the next band, you should ensure that cohesive ties connect paragraphs and sentences more naturally and unobtrusively throughout the entire letter.

Lexical Resource: Band 5.0

The student uses an adequate range of vocabulary for the task, successfully communicating the main message. However, there are noticeable spelling errors such as 'grabage' instead of 'garbage', and 'are' instead of 'our'. Word choice and collocations are occasionally awkward, such as 'every twice a week' or 'take some serious measure'. While these errors do not severely impede communication, they reflect a limited and somewhat basic lexical control that affects precision. To achieve a higher band, you need to expand your vocabulary range, incorporate more sophisticated collocations and less common lexical items, and eliminate basic spelling and word choice mistakes.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy: Band 5.5

The writing displays a mix of simple and complex sentence forms, demonstrating some attempt at variety with structures like conditional and subordinate clauses. However, there are frequent errors in grammar and punctuation, particularly with verb tenses, prepositions, and articles, such as 'from the last few days we are facing' instead of 'for the past few days, we have been facing'. Other errors include 'absorbs' instead of 'absorb' and 'look forward to hear' instead of 'hearing'. These frequent errors require the reader to occasionally pause, placing the text firmly in this band. To improve, you need to exercise greater control over tense consistency, prepositional patterns, and subject-verb agreement in complex sentences.

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

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