Band 5.5 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 5.5 · IELTS Complete Catalyst · 2026-08-26

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 provided bar graphs illustrate the proportions of French adults whose parents spoke a French regional language while they were infants and the proportions of those who speak French regional language to their own children.

Overall, it is visible that two graphs for the first category and one for the second one is given. We have five languages to compare from, namely, Alsatian, Occitan, Breton, Creole and Corsican.

In the upper chart, there is a distinction between habitually spoken and occasionally spoken languages on the left and the right side respectively. Although, Occitan is the most the spoken one in both the cases, there is a huge gap in the amount. Alsatian and Occitan occur to be almost equal in the regularly spoken category but have a huge difference in the other one, Occitan goes up to about 1 to 1.1m, whereas, the lowest in both cases is Corsican.

Having a look at the chart below, that depicts the number of adults who speak a regional language to their own children, it is evident that Alsatian is the most spoken language rising up to 400 thousands of people. Meanwhile, the lowest position is yet again bagged by Corsican language being even less than 100 thousand.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 5.5

The response covers the main features of the charts, but the analysis is somewhat superficial. While you identify the highest and lowest categories, the description lacks precision in data reporting. For instance, you mention '1 to 1.1m' for Occitan, but the charts provide more specific data points that should be clearly stated. Additionally, the description of the second chart is slightly inaccurate regarding the ranking of languages compared to the visual data provided. To achieve a higher band, ensure that you select and highlight key trends and differences more systematically rather than just listing observations. The overview is present but could be more comprehensive by synthesising the main trends across both charts.

Coherence and Cohesion — Band 6.0

The response is organised into logical paragraphs, which helps the reader follow the information. However, the use of cohesive devices is sometimes mechanical or slightly awkward, such as 'Although, Occitan is the most the spoken one in both the cases'. The transition between the two charts is clear, but the internal flow within paragraphs could be improved by using a wider variety of linking words to connect ideas more fluidly. Referencing is generally clear, though some sentences feel disjointed due to the phrasing. Overall, the structure is sufficient for a coherent report, but it lacks the sophisticated flow required for higher bands.

Lexical Resource — Band 5.5

You demonstrate an adequate range of vocabulary for the task, using terms like 'proportions', 'habitually', and 'depicts'. However, there are some inaccuracies in word choice and collocation, such as 'the most the spoken one' and 'bagged by Corsican language'. These errors do not impede communication but prevent the response from reaching a higher band. To improve, focus on using more precise academic collocations and avoid informal phrasing. The range is sufficient to convey the main points, but it lacks the flexibility and precision needed for a band 7.0 or higher.

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 'two graphs for the first category and one for the second one is given' (subject-verb agreement) and 'Occitan occur to be almost equal'. Punctuation is generally acceptable, but the sentence structure occasionally feels repetitive. While the errors do not cause significant difficulty for the reader, they are frequent enough to limit the score. To improve, focus on subject-verb agreement and ensuring that complex sentences are constructed with greater accuracy.

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

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