Band 6.5 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 6.5 · IELTS Complete Catalyst · 2026-08-03

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 6.5)

The bar charts illustrate the number of French adults who heard five specific regional languages from their parents during childhood, alongside the number of these adults who now speak those same languages to their own children. Overall, it is clear that while many adults were exposed to regional languages like Alsatian and Occitan in their youth, the number of adults passing these languages down to the next generation has dropped significantly across all five categories.

Looking at childhood exposure, Occitan was the most commonly spoken language on an occasional basis, reaching approximately 1 million adults. However, Alsatian was the most frequently spoken habitual language, with around 600,000 adults hearing it regularly. In contrast, Breton, Creole, and Corsican were spoken by far fewer parents, with Corsican having the lowest figures overall.

Turning to the second chart, there is a dramatic decrease in the use of these languages with the current generation of children. Alsatian remains the most widely spoken, with roughly 400,000 adults using it with their kids. Meanwhile, despite Occitan having high numbers in the previous generation, very few adults currently speak it to their children. Interestingly, Creole shows a strong retention rate; although its initial childhood numbers were relatively small, a large proportion of those adults continue to speak it to their own families.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 6.0

The response effectively addresses the task by summarizing the provided data. You have clearly identified the main trends, such as the overall decline in language usage across generations and the specific retention of Creole. The overview is well-crafted, providing a concise summary of the key findings. You have successfully highlighted the differences between the two charts and made relevant comparisons. The information is accurate and well-supported by the data provided in the charts. To reach a higher band, ensure that you include more specific data points (e.g., exact figures for each language) to fully support your descriptions, as some comparisons remain slightly general.

Coherence and Cohesion — Band 6.5

The response is logically organized with a clear progression of ideas. Each paragraph has a distinct focus: the introduction/overview, the first chart, and the second chart. You have used cohesive devices effectively, such as 'In contrast,' 'Turning to the second chart,' and 'Meanwhile,' which help guide the reader through the comparison. The paragraphing is appropriate, and the information flows smoothly from one point to the next. The referencing is clear, and the relationship between the two charts is well-established, contributing to a coherent and easy-to-follow report.

Lexical Resource — Band 6.0

You demonstrate a good range of vocabulary appropriate for an academic report. Phrases such as 'passing these languages down,' 'dramatic decrease,' and 'retention rate' are used accurately and naturally. The vocabulary is precise enough to convey the trends effectively. There are no significant errors in word choice or collocation. To improve further, you could incorporate more sophisticated or varied synonyms for 'spoken' or 'numbers' to avoid repetition and add a higher level of lexical precision, which would elevate the report to a more professional academic tone.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 6.5

The writing displays a good command of grammatical structures. You have used a mix of simple and complex sentences effectively, such as the use of subordinate clauses in 'while many adults were exposed to regional languages... the number of adults passing these languages down... has dropped.' The punctuation is accurate, and there are no major grammatical errors that impede communication. The majority of your sentences are error-free, showing good control over tense usage and sentence construction. The report is clear and grammatically sound throughout.

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