Band 6.5 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 6.5 · 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 6.5)

Dear Sir/Madam,

I am writing this letter to express the inconvenience that the public in our locality is facing because of the system installed for rubbish/ garbage collection in our area.

The system was installed to manage the renewable and organic garbage accordingly. However, due to a system failure, it has stopped functioning, and as a result, residents are facing issues with disposing of their garbage. For instance, bags and cardboard are being trashed around the system, which, as a result, is affecting the locality.

Therefore, I would be grateful if the local council could address this issue and fix it so that locals could dispose of their garbage properly. Weekly maintenance support in the future would be really appreciated to help us keep the area clean.

I am thankful to the council for taking valued time for the consideration to address the problem. I am looking forward to your prompt response.

Thank you,

Yours sincerely,

Tekjang Basnet

133 Lynedock Crescent

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response: Band 6.0

The response addresses all parts of the task, meeting the criteria for a solid performance. You have described how the rubbish collection system is not working properly by mentioning that it has stopped functioning due to a system failure. You also explained the impact on residents, noting that bags and cardboard are being left around the system, which affects the locality, and you suggested that the council should fix the problem and provide weekly maintenance. However, some ideas remain slightly under-developed; for instance, the explanation of how this is affecting you and your neighbours could have been extended with more specific details about health concerns or pest issues to push towards a higher level. Overall, the purpose of the letter is clear and appropriate for a general task, satisfying the core requirements effectively.

Coherence and Cohesion: Band 6.5

The letter demonstrates a coherent overall arrangement with a clear, logical progression of ideas from the initial statement of the problem to the proposed solutions and concluding remarks. Paragraphing is used appropriately to separate different points, such as the description of the issue and the call to action. Cohesive devices are employed, although some connections feel a bit mechanical, such as the repeated use of 'as a result' and transition words like 'Therefore'. Referencing is generally clear, helping the reader follow the flow of information easily. To achieve a fully higher band, a wider variety of cohesive devices could be integrated more naturally without relying on repetitive transitional patterns, ensuring that the relationships between sentences feel even more seamless.

Lexical Resource: Band 6.0

An adequate range of vocabulary is used for the task, allowing you to communicate your message clearly. You make successful attempts at less common vocabulary, such as 'locality', 'renewable and organic garbage', and 'prompt response'. However, there are some minor vocabulary choices and collocations that lack complete precision, such as using 'trashed around the system' instead of a more natural phrase like 'discarded around the bins'. Spelling and word-choice errors are minimal and do not impede communication at all. To reach the next level, incorporating a broader range of sophisticated lexical items and idioms or more precise idiomatic phrases would enhance the style and natural flow of the letter.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy: Band 6.5

The writing displays a mix of simple and complex sentence forms, demonstrating a good foundation in sentence construction. You successfully use structures such as 'I am writing this letter to express...' and 'I would be grateful if the local council could address this issue...'. There are some minor errors in grammar and punctuation, but they are infrequent and rarely impede communication. For instance, phrases like 'taking valued time for the consideration' sound slightly unnatural in grammatical patterning and word choice. To attain a higher band, you should aim for a greater frequency of entirely error-free complex sentences and demonstrate tighter control over prepositions and fixed idiomatic grammatical patterns.

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

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