Band 5.5 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 5.5 · Cambridge IELTS 13 · 2026-10-10

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 5.5)

Dear Sir or Madam,

I would like to explain that there should be maintenance for the garbage collection because system is not working properly for a few weeks.

The system was started providing problem around two weeks which happened around Wednesday, this day every locality member throw their garbage but system was not function properly due to internal part affected and did not made more slim for the space.

In our colony, people were affected because this system due to this garbage was not cleared properly and next week garbage date will came, previous week garbage was not thrown. So, our lives are not working properly because of stress.

I suggest that the local council initiate some help from the government and check the system as soon as possible so that our daily lives will better for next days. Please understand our situation and thank you for your time.

I look forward to hearing from you soon.

your faithfully,

Ketan Sharma

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response: Band 6.0

You address all three requested points: you report that collection has not worked for several weeks, describe the build-up of rubbish and stress for residents, and ask the council to inspect the system and seek government help. The purpose is clear and the tone is generally suitable for a formal complaint. However, the explanation of the fault is unclear: “did not made more slim for the space” does not tell the reader what has broken or why collection failed. The effects are also stated broadly rather than illustrated—for example, you could mention overflowing bins, unpleasant smells, or health concerns if these apply. Give a precise account of the collection schedule and a specific remedy to make the request more complete.

Coherence and Cohesion: Band 5.5

The letter follows a generally sensible order: it introduces the problem, describes its effect, and then makes a request. The opening and closing also help identify the format. However, the middle paragraphs are difficult to follow because several ideas are crowded into long sentences, especially the account beginning “The system was started providing problem around two weeks.” The repeated use of “system” and “because” makes connections feel mechanical, and “this day” has an unclear reference. Separate the timeline, the collection failure, and its consequences into clearer sentences. Use explicit links such as “As a result” and “In addition,” while ensuring each pronoun clearly refers to the rubbish collection service or the accumulated waste.

Lexical Resource: Band 5.0

You use relevant topic vocabulary such as “garbage collection,” “local council,” “locality,” and “government,” so the reader can identify the subject. However, the range is limited and several word combinations are inaccurate or unclear, which sometimes makes the message hard to understand. For instance, “maintenance for the garbage collection” and “did not made more slim for the space” do not express the intended problem naturally; “collection service” and a precise description of a damaged or blocked component would be clearer. “Our lives are not working properly” is also an imprecise way to describe the impact. Build a small set of accurate phrases for missed collections, overflowing rubbish, and disruption to residents, and check collocations before using less familiar expressions.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy: Band 5.0

You attempt both simple and longer sentence forms, and the reader can follow the broad message. However, errors in verb forms, articles, and sentence construction recur and sometimes obscure details. Examples include “because system is not working,” “The system was started providing problem,” and “did not made”; these need forms such as “because the system is not working,” “The problem started,” and “did not make.” The sentence about the Wednesday collection also joins several clauses without clear structure. The closing “your faithfully” should be “Yours faithfully.” Practise accurate past-tense descriptions of what happened and use shorter, controlled sentences when explaining the fault; then combine ideas with a correctly formed subordinate clause.

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