Band 6.0 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 6.0 · Cambridge IELTS 13 · 2026-11-04

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 this letter to drop your attention toward the issue of a garbage collection system, which is not working properly.

The system is used for collecting rubbish ragularly has not been collecting it from our local street since last week. I have also discussed this problem with garbage collectors but they did not respond properly and informed us about the delay.

Because of this issue, everyone in the society is facing inconvenience. It smells very bad and even having dificulty breathing in this untidy atmosphere. This mess makes our street unattractive and unhealthy.

I would like to suggest improving the garbage collecting service and hire more resposible collectors who can visit daily to collect door-to-door rubbish. This will not only help our socity more clean but also prevent future neglagence.

I look forward to your prompt response and resolution.

Your faithfully,

Priya Kaur

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response: Band 6.5

You address all three required points: the collection has stopped since last week, the resulting smell and health concerns affect residents, and you ask the council to improve the service and arrange daily collection. The purpose and formal tone are clear. However, some points are less fully developed than others: the description does not specify how often collection was scheduled or how much rubbish has accumulated, and the proposed response could be more practical, such as requesting an inspection or a temporary collection. The response is also one word below the stated 150-word minimum. Adding a little detail to the problem and a specific request would make the letter more complete.

Coherence and Cohesion: Band 7.0

The letter is organised in a clear sequence: you introduce the complaint, describe the collection failure, explain its effects, and then suggest a solution. Paragraphing supports this progression, and phrases such as “Because of this issue” and “This mess” help connect the problem to its consequences. The closing is also appropriate for a formal letter. To make the flow more polished, link the collectors’ response more clearly to the delay—for example, explain what information they gave you—and avoid relying on “This” to begin consecutive ideas. Overall, the organisation is easy to follow, with only small opportunities to make connections more precise.

Lexical Resource: Band 5.5

You use relevant vocabulary for a complaint, including “garbage collection system,” “inconvenience,” “unhealthy,” and “prompt response.” These choices make the topic and your concerns clear. However, several spelling and word-choice errors reduce accuracy, including “ragularly,” “dificulty,” “resposible,” “socity,” and “neglagence.” Some phrases are also unnatural or imprecise: “drop your attention toward” and “help our society more clean” do not express the intended meaning idiomatically. Aim for accurate collocations such as “draw your attention to the problem” and “keep our neighbourhood cleaner.” Proofreading spelling and choosing natural complaint-letter phrases would strengthen your vocabulary control.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy: Band 5.5

You attempt both simple and more complex sentence forms, including the relative clause in “a garbage collection system, which is not working properly” and the “not only … but also” construction in your proposed solution. The main message remains understandable. Some grammatical errors persist, however. “The system is used for collecting rubbish ragularly has not been collecting it” combines two structures without a clear grammatical link; write “The system, which is used to collect rubbish regularly, has not…” Also, “It smells very bad and even having difficulty breathing” lacks a clear subject and parallel verb form; use “It smells very bad, and residents are even having difficulty breathing.” Check sentence structure and verb forms while retaining your attempts at complex sentences.

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