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
Sample Response
Dear Sir or Madam, I am writing to express a grave situation that the community of "Lake West Spring" is facing due to the faulty and inadequate rubbish management system, especially for the last three to four weeks. With relation to the problems, the number of rubbish bins installed in the area is insufficient considering the total population. Moreover, for the last couple of weeks, garbage collector's lorries have not been picking up the trash in time, and deposit of all waste has started to scatter around the bins or on the streets. Since the garbage bins are overflowing with litter, it attracts some street dogs who rampage the rubish every night. It has also become a breeding ground for mosquitoes, houseflies and other insects which can lead to the spread of infectious diseases. Moreover, the bad odour from garbage has started reaching our house which hampers our peaceful and healthy living. I would like to suggest that the local council look into the matter urgently and make sure the garbage lorries come to our community every other day to empty the bins. Besides, for a long-term solution, more large waste bins should be erected in the region as soon as possible and the garbage should definitely be picked up in a timely manner. I hope you will take immediate measures to solve the problems and consider my suggestions. Yours faithfully, Elmina Rose
IELTS Writing Correction
- 1. Use natural complaint phrase Original: express a grave situation Suggested revision: report a serious problem Why it matters: 'Report a serious problem' states the purpose naturally and precisely.
- 2. Clarify time period Original: especially for the last three to four weeks Suggested revision: over the past three to four weeks Why it matters: The revised prepositional phrase correctly expresses the duration of the recent problem.
- 3. Use correct transition Original: With relation to the problems Suggested revision: Regarding the problem Why it matters: 'Regarding' is the natural formal transition, and the letter describes one collection problem.
- 4. Use concise comparison Original: considering the total population Suggested revision: given the local population Why it matters: The revision expresses the relationship between bin capacity and population more directly.
- 5. Fix compound noun Original: garbage collector's lorries Suggested revision: garbage-collection lorries Why it matters: The compound modifier avoids the incorrect singular possessive form.
- 6. Use punctuality phrase Original: in Suggested revision: on Why it matters: 'On time' means according to the expected collection schedule.
- 7. Name waste clearly Original: deposit of all waste Suggested revision: uncollected waste Why it matters: The revised noun phrase clearly identifies the rubbish left beside the bins.
- 8. Use accurate waste verb Original: has started to scatter Suggested revision: has begun to accumulate Why it matters: Waste accumulates around full bins rather than scattering by itself.
- 9. Fix pronoun agreement Original: it attracts Suggested revision: they attract Why it matters: The pronoun must agree with the plural subject 'garbage bins'.
- 10. Use precise animal term Original: some street dogs Suggested revision: stray dogs Why it matters: 'Stray dogs' is the concise standard term for unowned dogs in the streets.
- 11. Correct verb and spelling Original: rampage the rubish Suggested revision: scatter the rubbish Why it matters: The revision corrects the spelling and describes the dogs' action accurately.
- 12. Clarify the subject Original: It has also become Suggested revision: The accumulated waste has also become Why it matters: The explicit noun phrase removes the unclear singular pronoun reference.
Suggested Rewrites
- express a grave situation report a serious problem
- especially for the last three to four weeks over the past three to four weeks
- With relation to the problems Regarding the problem
- considering the total population given the local population
- garbage collector's lorries garbage-collection lorries
- in on
Why this response received Band 7.0
The letter fully addresses the collection failures, their effects on residents, and practical remedies in a suitably urgent formal tone, with particularly strong development of the health and hygiene consequences. Its main weakness is language accuracy, as several awkward word combinations and agreement errors reduce polish. Organise the content into distinct paragraphs and proofread noun phrases, pronouns, and collocations to make the complaint more precise and professional.
IELTS Writing Criteria Scores
Detailed feedback by IELTS writing criterion after the annotated essay.
Task Achievement
The purpose is immediately clear, all three bullet points are well developed with relevant detail, and the formal, urgent tone is appropriate for the council.
Refine the request by identifying responsibility and a clear response timescale so the proposed action is even more specific.
Coherence and Cohesion
The ideas follow a clear problem-effects-solutions sequence, but presenting the whole letter as one dense paragraph weakens its structure.
Use separate paragraphs for the collection failures, effects on residents, proposed remedies, and closing request.
Lexical Resource
The letter demonstrates a good range of topic-specific vocabulary, although several collocations and one spelling error reduce precision.
Replace awkward phrases such as express a grave situation and rampage the rubbish with natural complaint-letter wording, and check spelling.
Grammatical Range and Accuracy
A variety of complex sentences is used with generally clear meaning, but agreement, possessive, and pronoun-reference errors recur.
Check agreement in sentences about plural bins and lorries, and ensure each pronoun has a clear, grammatically matching antecedent.
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IELTS General Training Writing Task 1
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
Your response
Write the task yourself, then compare your choices with the annotated response.