Band 4.0 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 4.0 · Cambridge IELTS 13 · 2026-10-28

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 4.0)

hello : Dear /mam

My name is Harjinder Singh Gill

subject : i am writibg this letter about the garbage system is not worked well

i am living in calgary saddlehorn clo9se nE , the council did not worked propery . they alays left the garbage behind the bins menas to say they do not collect teh garbage properly this leads the high cocern for me as tjhe uncollect garfbage leads to some majour health concerns not only me facing tyhis issue eeven though my neighbours also facing this issue .

this causes

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response: Band 3.5

You identify the central problem: rubbish is left behind the bins instead of being collected, and you mention that this creates health concerns for you and your neighbours. However, the response addresses the task only partially. It does not explain the effects in any detail, and it ends with “this causes” without completing the thought. Most importantly, you do not suggest what the council should do. The letter is also substantially below the required 150 words, so there is not enough development to cover all three bullet points. To improve, describe specific consequences, such as smells or pests, and request a clear action, such as more frequent collections or an inspection of the service.

Coherence and Cohesion: Band 3.5

There is a basic attempt to organise the response: you introduce yourself and the subject, then describe the collection problem and its impact. The connection between uncollected rubbish and health concerns is relevant. However, the layout is not yet a clear formal letter: “hello : Dear /mam” and “subject :” are not appropriate opening conventions, and the unfinished line “this causes” interrupts the progression. The main information is placed in one long paragraph, while the final section is blank. Use a standard greeting, separate the problem, effects and requested action into paragraphs, and finish with a suitable closing. Linking phrases such as “As a result” and “I would therefore ask the council to…” would make the sequence easier to follow.

Lexical Resource: Band 4.5

You use some relevant vocabulary for the topic, including “garbage,” “bins,” “collect,” and “health concerns,” so the reader can identify the general issue. There is also an attempt to use more formal wording in “I am writing this letter about…”. However, spelling errors such as “writibg,” “alays,” “teh,” and “garfbage” make the message harder to read, and several phrases are not natural, including “the garbage system is not worked well” and “high cocern.” The range is limited, and the same basic terms are repeated. Check spelling carefully and learn useful collocations such as “rubbish collection service,” “missed collections,” and “pose a health risk.”

Grammatical Range and Accuracy: Band 4.5

You attempt to communicate the problem using both a main clause and a reason or result, as in “they do not collect the garbage properly” and “this leads…”. This shows some ability to form connected sentences. However, verb forms and sentence construction are often inaccurate: “the council did not worked” should use the base form after “did,” while “I am living” is less suitable here than “I live.” The sentence beginning “this leads” also has unclear structure, and the final “this causes” is incomplete. Capitalisation and punctuation are inconsistent, making sentence boundaries difficult to follow. Practise accurate present and past forms, and write shorter complete sentences before combining ideas.

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

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