Band 8.5 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 8.5 · IELTS Complete Catalyst · 2026-07-29

IELTS Writing Task 1 question

The charts below show the number of French adults whose parents spoke a French regional language to them when they were children and the number who speak a French regional language to their own children.

Write a report for a university lecturer describing the information below.

Number of adults (in thousands) whose parents spoke a regional language to them in childhood

Student answer (Band 8.5)

The provided horizontal bar graphs depict the number of adults whose parents spoke different regional languages to them when they were children. The data has been calibrated into thousands.

Looking from an overall perspective, it is crystal clear that the use of regional language declined over time. In the past, Alsatian and Occitan were the two most widely spoken regional languages among adults' parents, and although their numbers fell considerably, they remained the most common languages in the later period.

At first glance, it is noticeable that the first chart shows that Alsatian and Occitan had the highest numbers of parents who spoke these languages both habitually and occasionally. By contrast, Creole and Corsican were the least commonly spoken languages in both categories. In addition, Breton ranked in the middle, with approximately 300,000 habitual speakers and around 400,000 occasional speakers.

Moving ahead, the second graph illustrates that, despite a sharp decline in the numbers of Alsatian and Occitan speakers, these two languages still recorded the highest figures, at about 400,000 and 250,000 speakers respectively. Subsequently, Breton experienced a significant decrease, with the number of speakers falling to just under 100,000. Meanwhile, Creole and Corsican remained at the bottom of the chart, with approximately 80,000 and 60,000 speakers respectively.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 8.0

The response covers all parts of the task well. You have provided a clear overview of the trends and selected relevant data points to support your description. The comparison between the two charts is logical and accurate. To reach a higher band, ensure that you explicitly mention the categories (habitual vs. occasional) more consistently throughout the body paragraphs, as the prompt implies these are distinct data sets. However, the overall reporting is accurate and well-focused on the key features of the charts.

Coherence and Cohesion — Band 8.5

The response is logically organized with a clear introduction, overview, and two body paragraphs. The progression of ideas is smooth, and you use a variety of cohesive devices such as 'Looking from an overall perspective', 'By contrast', and 'Meanwhile' to link your points effectively. Paragraphing is used appropriately to separate the overview from the detailed analysis. The flow of information is easy to follow, and the referencing between the two charts is handled with good control.

Lexical Resource — Band 8.0

You demonstrate a sufficient range of vocabulary to convey information with precision. Phrases like 'calibrated into thousands', 'widely spoken', and 'experienced a significant decrease' are used effectively. There is an awareness of style appropriate for a report. While the vocabulary is accurate, incorporating a few more sophisticated collocations or topic-specific synonyms related to linguistic trends could further enhance the lexical variety. Overall, the language is natural and error-free.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 8.5

The writing displays a good mix of simple and complex sentence structures. You maintain a high level of grammatical accuracy throughout the text. Punctuation is used correctly, and there are no significant errors that impede communication. The use of subordinate clauses (e.g., 'although their numbers fell considerably') shows good control over complex structures. The response is consistent and demonstrates a solid grasp of English grammar, with only very minor slips, if any.

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