Band 6.0 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 6.0 · Cambridge IELTS 13 · 2026-11-02

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 am writing to get your attension on the improper garbage collection system which is causing some issues for me and my neighbours.

The garbage collectors' job is to pick the garbage on time and leave the bins properly on the side of road but ribbish collectors comes to our street after 12 P.M. and they mostly throw our half empmty bins on the road without keeping them properly on side of driveways.

When rubbish collectors do not keep the bins completely empty causing for flies, creating an unhealthy environment due to bad smell. Irresponsibly thrown bins on road is causing for inconvenience for drivers which can cause for minor accidents.

I would be grateful if the proper training given to garbage workers so they can do their job carefully.

Thank you for your attention and I hope this issue could be solved at your earliest convenience to reduce the risks of accident and for healthy environment.

Yours faithfully,

Manveer Kaur Kaila

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response: Band 6.5

You address all three requested points: you describe late collections and bins left partly full or on the road, explain the effects on hygiene and road safety, and ask for action through staff training. The letter is appropriately directed to the council and uses a suitable formal opening and closing. The effects are relevant, but the impact on you and your neighbours could be developed more specifically—for example, how often the smell or blocked driveways disrupts daily life. The proposed solution is also quite narrow: training is suggested, but you could ask the council to investigate the collection schedule and ensure bins are emptied and returned properly. These additions would make the response more fully developed.

Coherence and Cohesion: Band 6.5

The letter has a clear overall shape: an opening purpose, a description of the collection problem, its consequences, and a request for action. This makes the message easy to follow. The sequence from the collection process to its effects is logical, and the closing reinforces the request. However, some links between ideas are awkward or mechanical, particularly in “When rubbish collectors do not keep the bins completely empty causing for flies,” where the relationship between the incomplete collection and the consequences is not smoothly expressed. The second paragraph also combines several details in one long sentence. Separating the collection failures, their effects, and the requested remedy into clearer units would improve progression and cohesion.

Lexical Resource: Band 5.5

You use relevant vocabulary for the topic, including “garbage collection system,” “unhealthy environment,” “inconvenience,” and “risks of accident.” These choices communicate the main concerns, but the range and control are uneven, with noticeable spelling and word-choice errors. For example, “attension,” “ribbish,” and “empmty” are misspelled, while “pick the garbage” and “throw our half empty bins” are not the most natural collocations for a formal complaint. “Proper training” is understandable but could be made more precise by referring to staff procedures or service standards. More accurate topic-specific phrases, such as “missed collections” and “return the bins to the pavement,” would make the letter clearer and more professional.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy: Band 5.0

The response attempts both simple and more complex sentence forms, including a relative clause in “which is causing some issues” and a conditional idea about accidents. However, grammatical control is inconsistent, and several errors make sentences difficult to process. In “rubbish collectors comes,” the subject and verb do not agree; “When rubbish collectors do not keep the bins completely empty causing…” is an incomplete construction; and “I would be grateful if the proper training given” is missing a verb form. There are also problems with articles and prepositions, as in “on side of driveways.” Practise complete clause structures and conditional request forms, such as “I would be grateful if the council could provide…”

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

Browse more IELTS Writing model answers or get your own writing scored by the same AI examiner.