Band 7.5 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 7.5 · IELTS Complete Catalyst · 2026-09-11

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 horizontal bar charts compare the number of adults in thousands whose parents spoke five regional languages to them in childhood with those who currently pass these languages to their own children.

Overall, intergenerational language transmission shows a marked decline across all five regional languages. While Occitan was the most prevalent language spoken by parents, Alsatian is the most widely spoken to the next generation.

Regarding childhood language exposure, Occitan recorded the highest figure for occasional use at nearly 1.1 million adults, alongside 600,000 habitual speakers. Alsatian also reached 600,000 habitual speakers but had fewer occasional speakers (240,000). Breton was spoken habitually to roughly 260,000 adults and occasionally to 400,000, while Creole and Corsican registered the lowest exposure, each remaining under 150,000.

In contrast, parental transmission to children is significantly lower. Alsatian leads this category with 400,000 adult speakers. Occitan drops sharply to 250,000 speakers, while Breton, Creole, and Corsican are each spoken to children by under 100,000 adults.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 7.5

The response effectively addresses the task by comparing the two charts. You have successfully identified the key trends, such as the overall decline in language transmission and the specific performance of languages like Occitan and Alsatian. The data is accurately selected and presented, with clear comparisons between the two sets of figures. The overview is concise and highlights the main trend well. To reach a higher band, you could ensure that all data points are clearly distinguished; for instance, clarifying the distinction between 'occasional' and 'habitual' speakers in the second chart (if applicable) would add further precision to your analysis.

Coherence and Cohesion — Band 7.5

The report is well-structured with a logical progression of ideas. You use a clear introduction, a concise overview, and separate body paragraphs for the two charts. Cohesive devices such as 'Regarding', 'In contrast', and 'while' are used effectively to link ideas and create a smooth flow. Paragraphing is used appropriately to separate the different aspects of the data. The information is easy to follow, and the relationship between the two charts is clearly established through your comparative language.

Lexical Resource — Band 7.0

You demonstrate a good range of vocabulary appropriate for an academic report. Phrases such as 'intergenerational language transmission', 'marked decline', and 'prevalent language' show a sophisticated command of language. The use of 'habitual' and 'occasional' is precise and fits the context of the data well. There are no significant errors in word choice or collocation. To move toward a higher band, you could incorporate a few more precise academic collocations or synonyms to describe trends, though your current usage is already quite strong and natural.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 7.5

The response displays a high level of grammatical accuracy. You use a variety of sentence structures, including complex sentences with subordinate clauses (e.g., 'While Occitan was the most prevalent language...'). Punctuation is used correctly throughout, and there are no noticeable errors that impede communication. The majority of your sentences are error-free, and the control over tense and subject-verb agreement is consistent. The writing is clear, professional, and demonstrates a solid grasp of English grammar suitable for an academic task.

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

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