Band 9.0 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 9.0 · IELTS Complete Catalyst · 2026-08-01

IELTS Writing Task 1 question

The pie charts below show responses by teachers of foreign languages in Britain to a survey concerning why their students are learning a foreign language. The first chart shows the main reason for learning a foreign language. The second chart shows how many teachers felt that there has been a recent change in the reason.

Write a report for a university lecturer describing the information below.

% of teachers reporting the following as most common reason for learning:

Student answer (Band 9.0)

The two pie charts illustrate survey findings from foreign language teachers in Britain regarding the reasons their students study a foreign language. The first chart outlines the most common primary reasons reported by teachers, while the second indicates the proportion of teachers reporting recent increases in those specific motivations.

Overall, travel and business were reported as the primary reasons for language acquisition. However, when looking at recent trends, purchasing property overseas has emerged as the reason experiencing the largest increase, whereas travel saw the smallest growth.

According to the first chart, travel was cited as the single most popular primary reason, accounting for 33% of responses, followed by business or work at 26% and buying property abroad at 19%. In contrast, minor reasons each comprised less than 10% of the total: social contact and personal development accounted for 7% each, while general interest (5%) and having a foreign partner (3%) were the least common primary drivers.

Regarding recent growth, 34% of surveyed teachers noticed an increase in students learning to purchase property abroad, making it the most significant growth area. Business also maintained solid momentum, with 19% of teachers reporting a recent rise in this category, followed by social contact at 15%. Conversely, only 3% of teachers reported a recent increase in students learning primarily for travel. Smaller increases were observed in general interest (6%), personal development (4%), and foreign partners (4%). Additionally, 15% of teachers observed no change in student motivations.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 9.0

The response is excellent. You have fully addressed all parts of the task by describing both pie charts accurately. You provided a clear overview that highlights the main trends, and you supported your descriptions with specific data points from the charts. The comparison between the primary reasons and the recent changes is well-handled, and you correctly identified the most significant figures, such as the 33% for travel and the 34% for property purchase. The information is presented in a logical, analytical manner that is appropriate for an academic report.

Coherence and Cohesion — Band 9.0

The response is well-structured with a clear introduction, an overview, and two distinct body paragraphs. Each paragraph focuses on a specific chart, which makes the information easy to follow. You have used a variety of cohesive devices effectively, such as 'In contrast', 'Conversely', and 'Additionally', to link ideas and transition between points. The progression of ideas is logical, and the paragraphing is used appropriately to separate the two different datasets, ensuring the reader can navigate the information without confusion.

Lexical Resource — Band 9.0

You demonstrate a wide and precise range of vocabulary throughout the report. Phrases like 'language acquisition', 'maintained solid momentum', and 'significant growth area' are used naturally and accurately. The vocabulary is sophisticated and fits the academic tone required for this task. There are no noticeable errors in word choice or collocation, and the language used to describe the data (e.g., 'accounted for', 'comprised', 'observed') is varied and precise, showing a high level of lexical control.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 9.0

The response exhibits a wide range of grammatical structures, including complex sentences, with high accuracy. You have used a mix of simple and compound-complex sentences effectively to convey information. Punctuation is used correctly throughout, and there are no grammatical errors that impede communication. The control over verb tenses and subject-verb agreement is consistent, and the overall flow of the text is smooth and professional. The writing is error-free, reflecting a high level of grammatical competence.

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