Band 7.5 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 7.5 · 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 7.5)

The two bar charts illustrate the number of French adults, in thousands, who were spoken to in a regional language by their parents during their childhood, alongside the number who now speak a regional language to their own children. The data is provided for five distinct regional languages: Alsatian, Occitan, Breton, Creole, and Corsican.

Overall, it is clear that the number of adults who heard a regional language from their parents is significantly higher than the number who pass these languages to the next generation. This indicates a substantial decline in the intergenerational transmission of these regional languages.

In the first chart, regarding parental use, Alsatian was the most commonly spoken language, with approximately 800,000 adults reporting it was spoken habitually and a further 600,000 occasionally, totaling over 1.3 million. Occitan was the second most common, with roughly 600,000 habitual and 400,000 occasional speakers. The figures for Breton, Creole, and Corsican were considerably lower, with all three recording fewer than 300,000 habitual speakers. Notably, Breton had a higher number of occasional speakers (around 250,000) compared to its habitual speakers.

The second chart shows a stark drop in the use of these languages with the current generation of children. For all languages, the number of adults who speak a regional language to their own children is less than 300,000. Alsatian again has the highest figure, at approximately 250,000, followed by Occitan and Breton with roughly 200,000 and 150,000 respectively. The figures for Creole and Corsican are the lowest, each at about 50,000.

In conclusion, the data reveals a major decrease in the use of French regional languages from one generation to the next. Languages like Alsatian and Occitan, which were once more widely spoken by parents, are now being used far less frequently by adults with their own children, suggesting these languages are at risk of further decline.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 7.5

The response fully addresses the prompt by describing the key features of both charts. You have successfully identified the main trends, such as the significant decline in language transmission between generations, and provided relevant data points to support these observations. The comparison between the two charts is clear and logical. You have covered all parts of the task well, including the specific regional languages mentioned, and the overview provides a concise summary of the data. The information is accurate and well-selected, meeting the requirements for a high band score.

Coherence and Cohesion — Band 7.5

The response is logically organized with a clear introduction, overview, and body paragraphs that focus on distinct aspects of the data. Cohesive devices are used effectively to link ideas, such as 'In the first chart,' 'The second chart shows,' and 'In conclusion.' The progression of ideas is smooth, moving from the general trend to specific details and then to a summary. Paragraphing is used appropriately to separate the two charts, which helps the reader follow the analysis easily. The use of referencing is clear throughout the text.

Lexical Resource — Band 7.5

You demonstrate a wide and flexible range of vocabulary, which is used accurately to describe trends and data. Phrases such as 'intergenerational transmission,' 'stark drop,' and 'habitually' show a good command of language appropriate for an academic report. The vocabulary is precise and contributes to the clarity of the report. There are no noticeable errors in word choice or collocation, and the language used is natural and sophisticated, fitting the requirements for a high band score.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 7.5

The response displays a wide range of grammatical structures with high accuracy. You use a mix of simple and complex sentences effectively, such as the use of participial phrases ('reporting it was spoken habitually') and relative clauses. Punctuation is used correctly, and there are no significant grammatical errors that impede communication. The majority of sentences are error-free, and the control over complex structures is consistent throughout the report, reflecting a high level of grammatical competence.

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.