Band 6.0 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 6.0 · Cambridge IELTS 13 · 2026-10-20

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,

I am writing today to inform about the development of unhygenic surrounding due to improper method of waste collection happening in our local neighbourhood. There are following causes to this matter which will be discussed in the letter and some remedification

The collection truck for the recyclabes is living garbage on the floor in the process of collection in the back of the dump on the vehicle. This causes waste on the curb making mess in the surrounding of pedestrian walkway leaving unhealthy condition, foul smell for people to walk outside in the evening and while commuting in-out to and from the bus stop to home.

Due to this people in the neighbourhood now have an additional duty to collect this waste around the bins before taking bins to backyard to keep eco friendly condition nearby their homes. This can be addressed by calibration of the truck equipment arms that operates for this activity and routine check in the junkyard for proper functioning.

Thanks for the urgent attention to the matter and the consideration for timely actions for better living condition.

Kind regards,

Alexis

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response: Band 6.5

You address all three requested points: you describe the truck leaving rubbish behind, explain the mess, smell and extra work this creates, and propose checking or calibrating the equipment. These details make the complaint relevant and give the council a practical response to consider. The impact on residents is clearer than the explanation of how often or why collection fails, and the proposed routine checks are not fully specified. The opening also promises “following causes,” but the letter does not go on to set out causes. To strengthen the response, explain the collection problem more precisely and make the requested action explicit—for example, asking the council to inspect the truck and arrange a clean-up.

Coherence and Cohesion: Band 6.0

The letter has a recognisable structure, moving from the complaint to its effects and then to a proposed solution. Paragraphing helps separate these stages, and phrases such as “Due to this” signal a relationship between the problem and its consequences. However, some connections are mechanical or unclear: “There are following causes to this matter” does not accurately introduce the next paragraph, which describes the problem rather than its causes. The long sentence about the truck and the walkway also packs several effects together, making the progression harder to follow. Use a direct opening statement, then develop one main point per paragraph and link the effects clearly to the collection failure.

Lexical Resource: Band 5.5

You attempt a range of topic-specific and formal vocabulary, including “waste collection,” “neighbourhood,” “pedestrian walkway,” and “routine check.” This is appropriate for a council complaint, and the main message remains understandable. However, several inaccurate word choices, collocations and spelling errors reduce precision, such as “unhygenic surrounding,” “living garbage,” “remedification,” and “calibration of the truck equipment arms.” Some expressions sound unnatural or obscure the intended meaning. Aim for accurate, conventional phrases rather than more elaborate wording: for instance, describe the truck as “leaving rubbish behind” and request an “inspection and repair” of its lifting mechanism. Proofreading spelling and word forms would also improve clarity.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy: Band 5.5

You use both simple and more complex sentence forms, including a relative clause in “the truck … that operates for this activity” and a cause-and-effect construction beginning “Due to this.” The overall meaning can be followed, but some grammatical errors affect clarity. For example, “There are following causes” is missing a determiner, and “the truck … is living garbage” has an incorrect verb form and structure. The sentence beginning “This causes waste on the curb” also becomes difficult to control as several effects are joined together. Use shorter, complete sentences and check articles, verb forms and agreement; for example, “The collection truck leaves rubbish on the pavement” gives the central point clearly.

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