Band 8.0 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 8.0 · IELTS Complete Catalyst · 2026-08-23

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 8.0)

The charts compare the numbers of French adults, measured in thousands, whose parents spoke five regional languages to them during childhood, either habitually or occasionally, and the numbers who later spoke the same languages to their own children.

Overall, Occitan and Alsatian were the most widely used regional languages in the respondents' childhood, whereas Creole and Corsican were the least common. In addition, the number of adults who passed these languages on to their children was substantially lower than the number who had been exposed to them as children, indicating a decline in intergenerational transmission.

Regarding childhood exposure, approximately 600,000 adults reported that Alsatian had been spoken to them habitually, while a similar figure was recorded for Occitan. However, Occitan was by far the most common language spoken occasionally, with just over one million speakers, compared with only about 250,000 for Alsatian. Breton ranked third, being spoken habitually to around 300,000 children and occasionally to roughly 400,000. By contrast, Creole and Corsican were used much less frequently, with figures generally below 150,000 in both categories.

A different pattern emerges when examining language use with respondents’ own children. Alsatian remained the most commonly transmitted language, at about 400,000 speakers. The figure for Occitan fell markedly to approximately 250,000. Breton and Creole were each spoken to around 80,000–100,000 children, while Corsican recorded the lowest total, at roughly 50,000.

In summary, although several French regional languages were widely spoken to the current adult population during childhood, far fewer adults continue to use these languages with their own children, suggesting a gradual decline in their everyday use.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 8.0

The response fully addresses all parts of the task. You have clearly identified the key features of the charts, including the comparison between childhood exposure and current usage. The overview is well-crafted, highlighting the general trend of decline in intergenerational language transmission. You have effectively selected and reported the data, using specific figures to support your descriptions. The comparison between the two charts is logical and consistent throughout the report, demonstrating a clear understanding of the data provided.

Coherence and Cohesion — Band 7.5

The response is logically organized with a clear progression of ideas. Each paragraph has a distinct focus, moving from an introduction and overview to detailed analysis of the two charts. Cohesive devices such as 'Regarding', 'By contrast', and 'In summary' are used effectively to guide the reader. Paragraphing is used appropriately to separate the different stages of the analysis. The flow of information is smooth, and the relationship between the two charts is clearly articulated without any confusion.

Lexical Resource — Band 8.0

You demonstrate a wide and flexible range of vocabulary. The use of terms such as 'intergenerational transmission', 'habitually', 'occasionally', and 'markedly' shows a high level of precision and sophistication. The language is natural and appropriate for an academic report. There are no noticeable errors in word choice or collocation, and the vocabulary is varied enough to avoid repetition while maintaining clarity throughout the text.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 8.0

The response exhibits a wide range of grammatical structures with high accuracy. You successfully use complex sentence forms, such as 'The charts compare the numbers of French adults... whose parents spoke five regional languages to them', and 'although several French regional languages were widely spoken... far fewer adults continue to use these'. The majority of sentences are error-free, and punctuation is handled correctly. There is a high level of control over grammatical forms, which contributes to the overall professional tone of the report.

See this exact question answered at other band scores — the same prompt compared across bands.

Browse more IELTS Writing model answers or get your own writing scored by the same AI examiner.