Band 5.0 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 5.0 · Cambridge IELTS 13 · 2026-10-23

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 5.0)

Dear Sir ,

i hope you are doing well!

in our area your your people ,who are working in carring garbage not working properly they didn't come regulary didn't pick the garbage properly when they come in our area the trash are lay down from their vans they didn't through the waste mate material properly in the van ,because of that purpose all the garbage split into all the street and that creating mess and creating smell too we and my meighbour facing alot of promblem on it alot of mosqitoes and flies are spread because of this trash and they effect our childrens they suffering different types of disease . i have a suggestion for solve this problem .kindly use large dustbin put at the end of the street we through all the garbage on it at night and when they come in our area they take all the garbage from their .secondly clean all the area near from that bin properly and sprinkle different parasites medicines over their .if you done all these activities u can resolve that problem easily .

Thanking you!

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response: Band 6.0

You address all three points in the prompt: you describe irregular collection and rubbish spilling from the vans, explain the resulting mess, smell, insects and illness concerns, and suggest larger bins and cleaning around them. These are relevant details, and the council can understand the main problem and your proposed response. However, some points are less fully developed than others. For example, the collection problem is described in a long, unclear passage, and the proposed measures do not specify how collection should become more regular or how the council should ensure workers handle waste properly. Use a more formal opening and closing, and make each request explicit so the letter is more effective.

Coherence and Cohesion: Band 5.0

The response follows a broadly sensible order: it introduces the collection failures, describes their effects, and then offers solutions. This gives the reader a basic overall structure. However, almost the entire letter is presented as one paragraph, so the stages are difficult to distinguish. Linking phrases such as “because of that purpose,” “secondly,” and “if you done all these activities” are either awkward or do not clearly connect the ideas. The repeated use of “and” also makes the central description hard to follow. Separate the letter into paragraphs for the problem, its effects, and the requested action, and use clear links such as “As a result” and “I would therefore ask the council to…”

Lexical Resource: Band 5.0

You use vocabulary relevant to the topic, including “garbage,” “street,” “dustbin,” “mosquitoes,” and “disease,” so the main situation is understandable. There are also attempts to express specific effects and solutions rather than relying only on general terms. However, the range is limited and several word choices, collocations, and spellings make the message less clear or less suitable for a formal letter. For instance, “the trash are lay down,” “split into all the street,” and “parasites medicines” do not express the intended meanings naturally. Build a more accurate set of phrases for collection and sanitation, and check spelling and word forms. More precise wording would make your complaint clearer and more persuasive.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy: Band 4.5

You attempt to connect several ideas in longer sentences, including the explanation of how rubbish spills and affects residents, and you use some simple sentence forms to make requests. However, control of sentence structure and basic grammar is weak, and errors often make the relationships between ideas difficult to follow. Examples include “they didn't come regulary,” “the trash are lay down,” “they effect our childrens,” and “if you done all these activities.” These show problems with verb forms, agreement, plurals, and sentence construction. Punctuation and capitalisation are also inconsistent, with the main description running on without clear sentence boundaries. Practise writing shorter, complete sentences first, then combine them accurately using clauses such as “Because collection is irregular, rubbish accumulates in the street.”

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

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