Band 8.0 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 8.0 · IELTS Complete Catalyst · 2026-08-30

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 a regional language to them during their childhood, either habitually or occasionally, and the numbers who subsequently speak these languages to their own children.

Overall, Occitan was the most widely spoken regional language among the adults surveyed, particularly when it was used occasionally by their parents. By contrast, Breton, Creole and Corsican were spoken by considerably fewer people. Another notable feature is that the number of adults passing these regional languages on to their children was substantially lower than the number who had heard them from their parents.

Looking first at parental use, approximately 600,000 adults had been spoken to habitually in Alsatian during childhood, a figure broadly similar to that for Occitan. Breton was considerably less common, at around 250,000, while the corresponding figures for Creole and Corsican were only about 80,000 and 60,000, respectively. The pattern was markedly different for occasional use. Occitan dominated this category, with just over one million adults having heard it occasionally from their parents. Breton accounted for approximately 400,000, while Alsatian was spoken occasionally to around 200,000–250,000 adults. Creole and Corsican remained the least common, at roughly 100,000 and 80,000, respectively.

The final chart indicates a considerable decline in the transmission of these languages to the next generation. Alsatian was the most commonly passed-on language, at approximately 400,000 adults, followed by Occitan at around 250,000. Breton was spoken to roughly 90,000 children, while the figures for Creole and Corsican were lower, at approximately 80,000 and 70,000, respectively. Thus, although Occitan had the largest number of speakers who had heard it from their parents, Alsatian was more commonly transmitted to the following generation.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 8.0

You have provided a comprehensive and accurate report that addresses all parts of the task. You successfully identified the key features of the data, such as the dominance of Occitan in occasional parental use and the overall decline in language transmission to the next generation. The comparison between the three categories (habitual, occasional, and transmission to children) is clear and well-supported by the data provided. Your overview effectively synthesises the main trends, and the supporting details are relevant and precise. The response is well-structured and fully satisfies the requirements of an Academic Task 1 report.

Coherence and Cohesion — Band 7.5

The response is logically organised, with a clear progression from an introduction to an overview, followed by detailed body paragraphs. Each paragraph has a clear central topic, and the transition between the different charts is handled smoothly. You make effective use of cohesive devices such as 'By contrast', 'Looking first at', and 'The final chart indicates' to guide the reader through the data. Paragraphing is used appropriately to separate the different categories of information, ensuring the report is easy to follow and coherent throughout.

Lexical Resource — Band 7.5

You demonstrate a wide and flexible range of vocabulary, which allows for precise descriptions of the data. Phrases such as 'substantially lower', 'markedly different', and 'considerable decline' show a good command of academic register. You use language accurately to describe trends and comparisons without repetition. The choice of words is natural and sophisticated, fitting the requirements of a formal report perfectly. There are no noticeable errors in word choice or collocation, and the vocabulary is well-suited to the context of the task.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 8.0

Your writing displays a wide range of complex structures, including subordinate clauses and comparative constructions, which are used with high accuracy. The majority of your sentences are error-free, and the control over punctuation and tense is excellent. You successfully manage complex sentence structures, such as 'although Occitan had the largest number of speakers who had heard it from their parents, Alsatian was more commonly transmitted to the following generation.' There are no grammatical errors that impede communication, and the overall control of language is very strong.

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