Band 6.0 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 6.0 · Cambridge IELTS 13 · 2026-10-17

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 hope this letter finds you well. I am writing this letter regarding the issue we are currently faceing in my neighborhood, which is the garbage collection system.

The rubbish collection system have not been functing for quite some time. we noticed that our garbages have been left unattended for several weeks and has accumulated.

This act has affected the whole area, the waste have produced unpleasant smells and attracts flies and other pests. Residents find it difficult to maintain clean environment, and they are concerned about the spread of diseases.

I suggest that the local authority should arrange for waste collection workerss to visit the area at least twice a week to prevent rubish from accumulating. Additionally, the local authorities should supervise waste collection workers and ensure they carry out their duties as scheduled.

I look forward to a positive feedback. Thank you.

Yours faithfully,

Emela.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response: Band 7.0

You address all three points in the prompt: you identify missed collections and accumulated rubbish, explain the smells, pests and residents’ health concerns, and recommend more frequent collection and supervision. The purpose and formal tone are clear throughout. The effects are relevant and supported with specific consequences, while the proposed actions are practical. To make the ideas more fully developed, give a little more detail about the collection failure—for example, whether scheduled visits are repeatedly missed or bins are overflowing—and specify how the council could follow up on complaints. This would make the description and requested response more precise rather than relying on general statements.

Coherence and Cohesion: Band 6.5

The letter follows a sensible progression from the reason for writing, to the problem, its effects, and proposed solutions. Paragraphing helps distinguish these stages, and linking expressions such as “Additionally” make the recommendations easy to follow. The closing is also appropriate for a formal letter. Some connections remain basic, however, and the opening repeats the purpose with “I am writing this letter regarding.” The shift from the collection problem to its effects is understandable but could be made more explicit. Use a wider range of natural links and clearer references between sentences, while keeping the current logical paragraph structure, to make the progression smoother and less formulaic.

Lexical Resource: Band 5.5

Your vocabulary is sufficient to communicate the issue and its consequences, with relevant terms such as “unpleasant smells,” “pests,” “accumulating,” and “supervise.” However, the range is limited and several noticeable spelling or word-choice errors reduce accuracy: “faceing,” “functing,” “workerss,” and “rubish.” Some phrasing is also unnatural, including “our garbages” and “a positive feedback.” These do not prevent the reader from understanding the main message, but they make the letter less polished. Check spelling carefully and learn common collocations for formal complaints, such as “waste has accumulated” and “I look forward to a positive response.”

Grammatical Range and Accuracy: Band 5.5

You use both simple sentences and longer structures, including the relative clause in “the issue … which is the garbage collection system” and the purpose clause “to prevent rubbish from accumulating.” The main message remains understandable, but errors in verb forms and agreement are noticeable: “system have not been” should be “system has not been,” and “the waste have produced … and attracts” needs consistent agreement and tense. The sentence beginning “we noticed” also needs a capital letter after the full stop. Articles and number forms need attention in “maintain clean environment.” Practise checking each sentence’s subject and verb, and use a broader range of accurate complex structures.

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

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