Band 5.5 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 5.5 · IELTS Complete Catalyst · 2026-11-02

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 charts illustrate 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.

Overall, Occitan language was spoken by the largest number of parents both habitually and occasionally to them in childhood, while Alsatian language was the most dominant regional language.

In their childhood, around 600 thousands parents spoke Alsatian habitually and 300 thousands occasionally. Occitan was the most popular language, just above 600 thousands parents spoke it habitually anf around 1millions occasionally. Breton language shared a small portion, just below 300 thousands habitually and 400 thousands occasionally. Creole and Corican were the least used language, around 100 thousands parents used it habitually and a little more occasionall, whereas Corsican language user didn't reach 100 thousnads habitually and occasionally 100 thousands used it.

On the other hand, Alsatian language spoken by almost 400 thousands parents all the time, while occitan used by approximately 250 thousands parents. Conversely, Breton ,Creole and Corsican used y only 99 thousands, 90 thousands and 50 thousands parents.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response: Band 5.5

You identify the two measures and include an overview, noting Occitan’s prominence and the smaller figures for several other languages. However, the overview is unclear and partly contradictory: Occitan leads in the childhood figures, but Alsatian—not Occitan—is highest among adults speaking a language to their own children. Several details are also inaccurate or confused. For example, Alsatian was spoken occasionally by about 240,000, not 300,000; Creole and Corsican are combined unclearly; and the final comparison gives figures that do not match the chart consistently. The report covers both charts, but important comparisons are underdeveloped and some data are misreported. A clearer overview and more carefully selected, accurate comparisons would strengthen the response.

Coherence and Cohesion: Band 5.5

The response has a recognisable structure: an introduction, an overview, a paragraph about childhood language use, and a final paragraph about speaking to children. This gives the reader a basic route through the information. However, progression within the body paragraphs is uneven, particularly where Creole and Corsican are discussed together and then repeated in a confusing sentence. Linking phrases such as “Overall” and “On the other hand” help signal shifts, but the latter does not clearly express the relationship between the two charts. Some references, including “it” and “whereas,” are difficult to follow. Grouping the figures consistently by chart and using clearer comparisons would make the organisation more coherent.

Lexical Resource: Band 5.5

You use relevant vocabulary for describing charts, including “illustrate,” “habitually,” “occasionally,” and “approximately,” and the reader can generally understand the intended comparisons. However, the range is limited and several word choices or collocations are unnatural, such as “the most dominant regional language,” “shared a small portion,” and “used it habitually.” Repetition of “language” and “parents” also makes the report less precise. There are noticeable spelling errors in “anf,” “Corican,” “thousnads,” and “occitan,” which reduce accuracy. Aim for concise chart language and check spelling of the category names. For example, use “the largest figure” rather than “the most dominant language,” and “spoke the language” rather than “used it.”

Grammatical Range and Accuracy: Band 5.5

You attempt both simple and more developed sentence forms, including a contrast with “whereas” and a sentence beginning “On the other hand.” However, grammatical control is inconsistent, and errors sometimes make relationships between figures unclear. Examples include “600 thousands parents,” which needs a plural-number construction such as “600,000 parents,” and “Alsatian language spoken,” which is missing a finite verb. In “Breton, Creole and Corsican used y only…,” the passive structure is incomplete, while “a little more occasionall” does not form a complete, clear clause. Articles, agreement, and punctuation also need attention. Practise complete subject–verb structures and check each sentence for a clear subject and verb before submitting.

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