Band 6.5 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 6.5 · 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 6.5)

Dear Sir or Madam,

I am writing to express my growing concern about garbage collection in the Indra locality, Ward 37, PIN [redacted phone]. The garbage collection system is not up to standard.

The very first problem is that the people are not regular while collecting the rubbish of the locality. Earlier, they used to come twice a week, on Mondays and Thursdays, but it has been 3 weeks now since no one has come to collect the garbage.

Due to this, piles of garbage have accumulated in our locality, and they are now giving off a very bad odour and also attracting many stray animals like pigs and insects like mosquitoes and rats. This will increase the incidence of diseases like malaria in our locality.

I believe that the garbage collection system should be taken into consideration on a priority basis, and the employees should be regular in collecting it.

Hope you will take the necessary steps to overcome this problem.

Yours faithfully,

Sakshi Abbott

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response: Band 7.0

The letter addresses all three requirements: it explains that collections have stopped for three weeks despite previously occurring twice weekly, describes the effects of accumulated rubbish, and asks the council to act. The details about odour, stray animals and possible disease make the complaint relevant and give it support. Your purpose and concern remain clear throughout, which suits this level. However, the proposed solution is quite general: asking employees to be regular does not specify what action the council should take, such as restoring the collection schedule or arranging an immediate clearance. The effect on neighbours is also implied through “our locality” rather than described in detail. More specific remedies and a fuller account of the shared impact would strengthen the response.

Coherence and Cohesion: Band 7.0

The information follows a clear, sensible sequence: you introduce the complaint, explain the missed collections, describe the consequences, and then request action. Paragraphing supports this progression, and links such as “Earlier” and “Due to this” help the reader follow the cause-and-effect relationship. The letter also uses an appropriate opening and closing. Cohesion is generally effective, though some transitions are quite basic, and the final request is brief compared with the explanation of the problem. You could make the progression more polished by linking the requested action directly to the consequences—for example, asking for an immediate collection to remove the accumulated rubbish, followed by a reliable schedule. This would make the closing feel more fully connected to the preceding details.

Lexical Resource: Band 6.0

Your vocabulary is adequate for explaining the complaint, and phrases such as “piles of garbage have accumulated,” “giving off a very bad odour,” and “attracting many stray animals” communicate the situation clearly. You also use relevant terms such as “incidence of diseases.” However, some expressions are imprecise or less natural in this context: “not up to standard” is broad, while “taken into consideration on a priority basis” is wordy and does not clearly state the action required. “The people are not regular” is also an awkward way to describe missed collections. More precise collocations would make the letter sound more fluent and formal. Overall, the range serves the task, but some word choices lack naturalness and precision.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy: Band 6.5

You use a mix of simple and more complex sentence forms, and several sentences are controlled well, including “Earlier, they used to come twice a week, on Mondays and Thursdays, but it has been 3 weeks now since no one has come.” The cause-and-effect sentence beginning “Due to this” also conveys a complex idea clearly. Some grammatical choices are less accurate or natural, however. In “The very first problem is that the people are not regular while collecting,” the present-tense framing is awkward for a problem that has continued for three weeks; a form such as “have not been collecting regularly” would be clearer. “Hope you will take” omits the subject “I,” and the final request could use a more complete sentence structure. These issues do not prevent understanding, but more consistent control would improve accuracy.

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