Band 5.5 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer
Overall Band Score: 5.5 · IELTS Complete Catalyst · 2026-08-05
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 5.5)
The bar charts show the number of adults (in thousands) whose parents spoke a regional language to them in childhood and the number who speak it to their next generation.
Overall, parents spoke mostly Alsatian and Occitan on daily basis while Occitan remained on top occasionally. Alsatian was the highest spoken language that passed to the next generation compared to other languages.
Looking at the parents first, Alsatian and Occitan was equally spoken habitually by 600 thousands parents. Breton came after that with almost 300 thousands parents, following by Creole and Corsican which came at last, with only 200 thousands and almost 100 thousands respectively.
On the Occasions, the most common spoken language was Occitan by more than one million parents. Breton came at second with 400 thousands, following by Alsatian with more than 200 thousands. There was slight increase in Corsican but Creole remained same.
The languages passed to next generation show a significant change. Alsatian comes at the highest with 400 thousands adults. Occitan follows it with around 250 thousands, while other three languages remain under 100 thousands.
AI examiner evaluation
| Criterion | Band |
|---|---|
| Task Achievement / Task Response | 5.5 |
| Coherence and Cohesion | 6.0 |
| Lexical Resource | 5.5 |
| Grammatical Range and Accuracy | 5.5 |
| Overall | 5.5 |
Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 5.5
The response covers all parts of the task by describing the two charts provided. You have identified the key features, such as the comparison between habitual and occasional usage, and the decline in language transmission to the next generation. However, the report lacks precision in data reporting. For example, stating '600 thousands' is incorrect; it should be '600,000' or '600 thousand'. Additionally, the description of the 'next generation' data is somewhat brief. To reach a higher band, ensure that all data points are accurately transcribed and that the comparison between the two charts is more explicitly linked to the overall trend of language decline.
Coherence and Cohesion — Band 6.0
The response is logically organized into clear paragraphs, with an introduction, an overview, and body paragraphs focusing on specific data sets. The progression of ideas is generally clear. However, the use of cohesive devices is sometimes mechanical or slightly awkward, such as 'came after that' or 'following by'. While the paragraphing is appropriate, the transition between the 'habitual' and 'occasional' categories could be smoother to improve the flow of the report. Overall, the structure is functional and supports the reader's understanding of the information presented.
Lexical Resource — Band 5.5
You have used a sufficient range of vocabulary to describe the data, including terms like 'habitually', 'significant change', and 'regional language'. However, there are some inaccuracies in word choice and collocation, such as 'remained on top occasionally' and 'following by' (instead of 'followed by'). The phrasing '600 thousands' is a recurring error in numerical expression. While the vocabulary is adequate to convey the main points, it lacks the precision and flexibility required for a higher band score. Focusing on more natural collocations and correct numerical formatting will improve your score.
Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 5.5
The response uses a mix of simple and complex sentence structures. There are several grammatical errors, such as subject-verb agreement issues ('Alsatian and Occitan was equally spoken') and incorrect prepositional usage ('on daily basis' should be 'on a daily basis'). While these errors do not impede communication, they occur frequently enough to prevent a higher score. To improve, pay closer attention to pluralization, articles, and consistent verb tense usage. The attempt at complex sentences is noted, but the accuracy within those structures needs to be more consistent.
See this exact question answered at other band scores — the same prompt compared across bands.
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