Band 8.0 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 8.0 · IELTS Complete Catalyst · 2026-08-25

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 8.0)

The two pie charts illustrate the reasons why people learn a language, according to teachers, and the reasons associated with the recent increase in language learning.

Overall, travel was the most common reason for learning a language, whereas buying property overseas accounted for the largest proportion of the recent increase. It is also noticeable that the importance of travel declined dramatically in the second chart, while learning for property-related purposes and social contacts became considerably more significant.

In the first chart, travel was the leading reason, accounting for 33% of responses. Business and work was the second most common motivation, at 26%, followed by buying property overseas, at 18%. However, the pattern was considerably different among the reasons for the recent increase in language learning. Buying property overseas represented the largest proportion, at 34%, while business and work accounted for 19%. In contrast, travel made up only 3%, despite being the most common reason overall in the first chart.

The remaining categories represented relatively small proportions in both charts. Social contacts increased substantially from 7% in the first chart to 15% in the second, making it one of the more significant reasons for the recent growth. General interest changed only slightly, rising from 5% to 6%, while personal development decreased from 7% to 4%. Finally, having a foreign partner remained a minor factor, increasing marginally from 3% to 4%.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 8.0

You have fully addressed the task requirements by providing a clear overview and selecting key features to compare the two charts. Your summary of the main trends—such as the shift from travel as a primary motivation to property-related purposes—is accurate and well-supported by the data. You successfully highlighted the most significant changes, such as the dramatic decline in travel and the rise in social contacts. The report is well-structured, and all data points are accurately represented. There are no omissions, and the information is presented in a way that is easy for the reader to follow, meeting all the requirements for a high band score.

Coherence and Cohesion — Band 7.5

The response is logically organized with a clear progression of ideas. You use paragraphing effectively to separate the overview from the detailed analysis. Cohesive devices such as 'whereas', 'in contrast', and 'however' are used naturally to link ideas and contrast the two charts. The transition between the general overview and the specific data points is smooth. The information is presented in a coherent manner, and the use of referencing is precise, ensuring that the reader can easily follow the comparison between the two sets of data.

Lexical Resource — Band 7.5

You demonstrate a wide and flexible range of vocabulary, which allows for precise description of the data. Phrases like 'accounted for the largest proportion', 'declined dramatically', and 'remained a minor factor' are used accurately and appropriately. You avoid repetition and show a good command of collocations related to data reporting. The vocabulary is sophisticated enough to convey the trends clearly without any noticeable errors in word choice or spelling. This level of lexical control is consistent throughout the report.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 8.0

Your writing displays a wide range of grammatical structures, including complex sentences that are used with high accuracy. The majority of your sentences are error-free, and your control over punctuation and tense usage is excellent. You successfully combine simple and complex structures to maintain a natural flow. There are no significant grammatical errors that impede communication, and the overall quality of the writing is very high, reflecting a strong command of English grammar suitable for an academic report.

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