Band 6.5 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 6.5 · Cambridge IELTS 13 · 2026-11-03

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 6.5)

Dear Sir or Madam,

I am writing to kindly draw your attention to the existing garbage collection process which is not as effective as in the past. It causes various issues to locals.

First of all, the garbage truck only comes twice a week instead of everyday, which becomes a major problem for the residents. Unfortunately, none of us was informed about this sudden change. Consequently, the left over rubbish attracts cows and street dogs to search for the food. It makes the area look dirty and untidy.

Furthermore, excessive garbage could potentially harmful as it causes severe health-related problems to the locals, specially during monsoon. It affects not only adults but also children, an anyone can catch up diseases like fever or dangue quickly.

I would greatly appreciate it if you could notify the staff members to collect the garbage from Burnaby area every other day. Certainly, it will have a huge impact on well beings.

I look forward to your prompt response and a satisfactory resolution to this matter.

Yours faithfully,

Rutvi Patel

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response: Band 7.5

The letter addresses all three requirements and maintains a clear, appropriately formal purpose. You explain the change in collection frequency, note that residents were not informed, describe animals scattering rubbish and the resulting health concerns, and request collection every other day. These details make the complaint relevant and give the council a practical action to consider. The effects on neighbours are supported with examples, although the health impact is stated broadly rather than explained in detail, and the proposed remedy could be linked more explicitly to the specific collection failures. To strengthen the response further, clarify whether the problem is reduced frequency, missed collections, or both, and briefly explain why the suggested schedule would resolve it.

Coherence and Cohesion: Band 7.0

The letter has a clear progression: it introduces the complaint, describes the collection problem and its effects, proposes a solution, and closes with a request for a response. Paragraphing supports this sequence, while signposts such as “First of all” and “Furthermore” help readers follow the points. The relationship between the reduced collection schedule and the consequences is generally clear. However, some linking is a little mechanical, and the final request moves quickly from the problem to the proposed schedule. A more explicit transition explaining how regular collection would prevent rubbish accumulation would improve the flow. The reference to “it” in “It affects not only adults” is understandable but could be made more precise by naming the health risk or accumulated rubbish.

Lexical Resource: Band 6.0

You use an adequate range of vocabulary for a formal complaint, including “draw your attention,” “sudden change,” “excessive garbage,” and “satisfactory resolution.” These choices communicate the issue clearly, and the tone is generally suitable for writing to a council. There are, however, some inaccurate or unnatural choices and spelling errors: “left over rubbish” is better expressed as “leftover rubbish,” “well beings” should be “well-being,” and “dangue” should be “dengue.” “Catch up diseases” is not the natural phrase in this context; use “contract diseases.” Also, “notify the staff members” is less direct than asking the council to arrange regular collections. More precise collocations would make the letter sound more fluent and professional.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy: Band 6.0

The response includes both simple and more complex sentence forms, such as “Unfortunately, none of us was informed about this sudden change” and the conditional request, “I would greatly appreciate it if you could…”. Most sentences remain easy to understand, but some grammatical errors persist. In “excessive garbage could potentially harmful,” the verb “be” is needed after “could”; “an anyone” should be “and anyone”; and “It affects not only adults but also children” would be clearer with a grammatically complete reference to the cause. The sentence beginning “which becomes a major problem” also shifts awkwardly from the past change to the present consequence. Review modal verb patterns, conjunctions, and sentence references, while retaining the useful variety of structures already attempted.

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