Band 5.5 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer
Overall Band Score: 5.5 · IELTS Complete Catalyst · 2026-08-31
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 given chart illustrates the number of French adults whose parents spoke to them in their regional language. And the number who spoke to their own children in their regional language.
In the first half, the bar chart shows the number of adults whose parents regularly used their regional language Alsatian and Occitan in their houses with their children were around (400,000) people. While Breton, Creole and Corsican were the least spoken languages among the adults which was around [redacted phone] thousand people. Occitan was seem to be used by most adults in their houses around (1.1 million) on special events or we can say less frequently.
Then the number of adults who used these languages with their children, Alsatian remained most popular among them around 500,000, then Occitan maintained its place among 230,000 adults who used it in their homes. While Breton, Creole, Corsican remained the least used languages by the adults.
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 the main features of the charts, but the analysis is somewhat superficial. You have identified the languages and provided some figures, but the comparison between the two charts is underdeveloped. For instance, you mention that Alsatian remained the most popular, but you do not explicitly contrast the decline or growth across the two categories effectively. The data presentation is occasionally imprecise, such as using 'around' repeatedly without clear reference to the specific visual trends. To improve, ensure you provide a clear overview of the main trends and highlight the most significant differences or similarities between the two sets of data rather than just listing figures.
Coherence and Cohesion — Band 6.0
The essay is organised into paragraphs, which helps the reader follow the structure. However, the use of cohesive devices is somewhat mechanical and limited. Transitions like 'In the first half' and 'Then' are basic. The connection between sentences is sometimes weak, making the flow feel disjointed. For example, the transition between the discussion of the first chart and the second could be smoother. To reach a higher band, try to use a wider range of linking words and ensure that each paragraph has a clear topic sentence that guides the reader through the data comparison.
Lexical Resource — Band 5.5
The vocabulary is adequate for the task but lacks variety and precision. You rely heavily on simple verbs like 'used', 'spoke', and 'remained'. There is also some awkward phrasing, such as 'Occitan was seem to be used', which is grammatically incorrect and impacts the clarity of the lexical choice. To improve, incorporate more precise academic vocabulary related to data description, such as 'fluctuated', 'declined', 'predominant', or 'significant proportion'. Avoid informal phrasing like 'we can say' as it is not suitable for an academic report.
Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 5.5
The response contains a mix of simple and complex sentence structures, but there are frequent grammatical errors. Examples include 'Occitan was seem to be used' (incorrect passive voice), 'the number... were around' (subject-verb agreement error), and the sentence fragment 'And the number who spoke to their own children...'. Punctuation is also inconsistent, particularly with the use of parentheses for figures, which should be avoided in formal writing. To improve, focus on subject-verb agreement and ensure that every sentence has a clear subject and verb. Reducing the number of errors will significantly improve your score.
See this exact question answered at other band scores — the same prompt compared across bands.
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