Band 7.0 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer
Overall Band Score: 7.0 · 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 7.0)
The bar charts compare the number of French adults, in thousands, who were spoken to in a regional language during their childhood with the number who speak a regional language to their own children.
Overall, significantly more adults were exposed to regional languages when they were young than are currently using them with their children. This indicates a decline in the transmission of regional languages across generations in France.
In terms of childhood exposure, Alsatian has the highest figure, with approximately 650 thousands adults having parents who spoke it to them. Occitan and Breton followed, at around 550 thousand and 350 thousand respectively. Basque, Catalan and Corsican were much less common, each with fewer than 100 thousand adults.
By contrast, the numbers for speaking regional languages to children are much lower. Again Alsatian is the most prevalent, but only about 250 thousand adult use it with their children. Occitan drops to roughly 200 thousand, and Breton to under 150 thousand. For Basque, Catalan and Corsican, the figures are all below 30 thousand.
In conclusion, while regional languages were relatively widespread among the parents generation, their use with the next generation has dropped sharply across all six languages shown.
AI examiner evaluation
| Criterion | Band |
|---|---|
| Task Achievement / Task Response | 7.5 |
| Coherence and Cohesion | 7.5 |
| Lexical Resource | 6.5 |
| Grammatical Range and Accuracy | 7.0 |
| Overall | 7.0 |
Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 7.5
The response effectively addresses all parts of the task. You have provided a clear overview of the main trends and successfully highlighted the key differences between the two charts. The data is accurately selected and compared, with specific figures used to support the descriptions. The comparison between the 'parents' generation' and the 'children's generation' is well-developed, and the decline in language transmission is clearly articulated. You have successfully covered all six languages mentioned in the charts, ensuring a comprehensive report that meets the requirements of an Academic Task 1 response.
Coherence and Cohesion — Band 7.5
The report is logically organized with a clear introduction, a concise overview, and two body paragraphs that group the data effectively. Cohesive devices such as 'In terms of', 'By contrast', and 'In conclusion' are used appropriately to guide the reader through the information. The progression of ideas is smooth, moving from the general trend to specific details for each category. Paragraphing is used effectively to separate the two distinct sets of data, which enhances the overall readability of the report.
Lexical Resource — Band 6.5
You demonstrate a good range of vocabulary appropriate for a report, using terms like 'prevalent', 'transmission', and 'exposed to' effectively. There is a minor error in '650 thousands adults' (should be '650 thousand') and '250 thousand adult' (should be 'adults'), but these are minor slips that do not impede communication. The vocabulary is sufficiently varied to describe the trends accurately, and you avoid unnecessary repetition throughout the text.
Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 7.0
The response uses a mix of simple and complex sentence structures with good control. Most sentences are error-free, and the punctuation is generally accurate. There are a few minor grammatical slips, such as the pluralization errors mentioned in the lexical section ('650 thousands' and '250 thousand adult'). However, these do not detract from the clarity of the report. The use of comparative structures is well-handled, and the overall grammatical accuracy is high, supporting a clear and professional tone.
See this exact question answered at other band scores — the same prompt compared across bands.
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