Band 5.5 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 5.5 · IELTS Complete Catalyst · 2026-09-27

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 5.5)

The pie charts illustrates the proportion of teachers reporting the following as most common reason for foreign learning in Britain.

Overall, in the first graph travel showed the maximum percentage of foreign language but it decreased in the second graph, while buying property overseas demonstrated the increased proportion.

Initially, travel displayed maximum percentage of learning was 33 percent but it dropped dramatically at 3%, which was followed by business work. The former was 25% and the latter was 19%. Subsequently, the percentile of buying property overseas revealed increased slightly from 19% to 34%. Moreover, percentage of general interest and foreign partner increased 1% only was 6% and 4% respectively.

Furthermore, social contacts showed increased double proportion was 7% to 15% respectively. In addition, the percentage of personal development showed decrease trend between 7% and 4%. Finally, fifteen percent of people learning foreign language demonstrated no change.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response: Band 5.5

The student attempts to describe the two pie charts showing reasons for learning foreign languages and perceived recent changes. An overview is provided, though it is somewhat fragmented. Key features are selected, such as travel being the most common reason initially and its subsequent drop, alongside the rise in buying property overseas. However, there are several data inaccuracies and confusions. For instance, the student states that the former was 25% and the latter was 19%, whereas travel was actually 33%. Furthermore, the description of changes is occasionally confusing and mathematically imprecise. Additionally, the response falls slightly short of the 150-word minimum, containing 146 words. These shortcomings place the response at Band 5.5.

Coherence and Cohesion: Band 5.0

The response has a basic structure with an introduction, an overview sentence, and supporting detail sentences. However, paragraphing is underdeveloped, and the text reads as a single block of body text following the introduction. Cohesive devices are used awkwardly or repetitively, such as 'Initially', 'Subsequently', 'Moreover', and 'Furthermore', which creates a mechanical feel rather than a smooth progression. Reference words are sometimes unclear, making it difficult for the reader to follow the exact comparisons being made between the two charts. Overall coherence is maintained at a basic level, justifying a Band 5.0.

Lexical Resource: Band 5.5

The student uses an adequate vocabulary range for the task, attempting words related to data description such as 'proportion', 'percentage', 'maximum', 'dropped dramatically', and 'increased slightly'. However, there are notable lexical errors and awkward collocations, such as 'foreign learning' instead of 'foreign language learning', 'percentile' instead of 'percentage', and 'decrease trend' instead of 'downward trend'. While the vocabulary is sufficient to convey basic meanings, these inaccuracies and limited control over less common items restrict the score to Band 5.5.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy: Band 5.0

The student attempts a mix of simple and complex sentence structures, but control over grammar is inconsistent. There are several grammatical errors and awkward phrasings, such as 'The pie charts illustrates' (subject-verb agreement error), 'learning was 33 percent but it dropped dramatically at 3%' (preposition error), and 'percentage of general interest and foreign partner increased 1% only was 6% and 4% respectively' (syntax and structural breakdown). Punctuation and verb tenses are also mishandled in places. Because errors frequently cause strain and reduce clarity, the grammar score is Band 5.0.

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