Band 5.5 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer

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

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,

I am writing this letter to express my dissatisfaction with your service of rubbish collection. My name is kishan and live at the Blue star recidency.

There is major problem is that they do not come everyday to collect our rubbish. there is not fix time to come and pick the garbages. many time I request to them but they not listening to me.also, there is rule of coucil is every friday morning they take the rubbish.

Council kept that big garbage bin front of my house so, all the member keep their rubbish on every thrusday evening time because every friday morning council worker take all garbages. they are not collect on time that bin spred bed smell and that face me and may neighbour. it is very dengerous for our health and it is make very serious disease in our society.

It is my humbel request to your council you should take that garbage everyday.

In anticipation of your sesponse.

Yours faithfully,

Kishan

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response: Band 6.0

You address all three requested points: you describe irregular collections and the lack of a fixed time, explain that the bin produces a bad smell and may threaten residents’ health, and ask the council to collect rubbish daily. The complaint is relevant and your purpose is clear. However, some points are less fully developed than others. For example, “they do not come everyday” is not reconciled with your later statement that collection is scheduled every Friday, and the effects on neighbours are mentioned but not illustrated in detail. The proposed solution is also brief; you could request a reliable collection schedule, explain how missed collections should be reported, or ask for the bin to be moved away from your home.

Coherence and Cohesion: Band 5.5

The letter has a recognisable structure: an opening complaint, details of the collection problem and its effects, and a final request. Paragraphing helps separate these functions, and the sequence is generally understandable. However, progression is sometimes weakened by abrupt or unclear links. The shift from “they do not come everyday” to the Friday schedule leaves the actual failure unclear, while “Council kept that big garbage bin front of my house so” joins several ideas without a clear relationship. Some linking is repetitive, particularly the repeated use of “also” and “because.” Organise the central paragraph around the schedule, missed collections, and resulting effects, using clearer transitions and references.

Lexical Resource: Band 5.0

You use enough topic-related vocabulary to communicate the main complaint, including “rubbish collection,” “garbage bin,” “bad smell,” and “health.” However, the range is limited and several word choices, collocations, and spelling errors make the letter less natural or occasionally unclear. Examples include “service of rubbish collection,” “spred bed smell,” and “very dengerous.” Some expressions are also imprecise, such as “take all garbages.” Aim for standard council-complaint language and check spelling carefully. More precise phrases such as “missed collections,” “overflowing bin,” and “unpleasant odour” would help you describe the problem clearly without changing your meaning.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy: Band 4.5

The letter communicates its main message, but grammatical control is uneven and sentence structures are mostly simple, with some attempts at longer sentences that are difficult to follow. For example, “My name is kishan and live at the Blue star recidency” omits the subject in the second clause, while “There is major problem is that they do not come everyday” has an incorrect clause structure. Verb forms and agreement also need attention in “they not listening to me” and “it is make very serious disease.” Punctuation and capitalisation are inconsistent, especially where sentences begin with lowercase letters or run together. Practise complete clauses, articles, and consistent present-tense forms, then proofread each sentence.

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