Band 8.0 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 8.0 · IELTS Complete Catalyst · 2026-10-01

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 8.0)

The two pie charts illustrate the reasons why people in Britain learn foreign languages, according to teachers, and the proportion of teachers who have noticed a recent increase in students learning for each reason.

Overall, travel was the most common reason for learning a foreign language, while buying property overseas showed the largest recent increase. In contrast, travel showed the smallest increase.

In the first chart, travel accounted for the largest proportion, at 33%. Business and work was the second most common reason, representing 26% of responses, while buying property overseas accounted for 19%. Social contacts and personal development each made up 7%, followed by general interest at 5%. Having a foreign partner was the least common reason, at just 3%.

The second chart shows a rather different pattern. Buying property overseas recorded the highest proportion of teachers reporting a recent increase, at 34%, followed by business and work at 19%. Social contacts accounted for 15%, while the same percentage of teachers reported no change. General interest, personal development and having a foreign partner represented 6%, 4% and 4%, respectively. By contrast, only 3% of teachers reported an increase in language learning for travel.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response: Band 8.0

The response covers all parts of the task well, providing a clear overview and effectively selecting and reporting key features from both charts. The main reasons for learning and the trends in recent changes are accurately contrasted, such as highlighting that travel was the most common overall reason while buying property overseas saw the largest recent increase. Data points are cited correctly without any notable omissions or inaccuracies, demonstrating a fully developed and well-supported response to the visual data presented.

Coherence and Cohesion: Band 8.0

Information and ideas are logically sequenced with a clear progression throughout the report. The response is divided into appropriate paragraphs, starting with a clear introduction and an overall summary before moving into specific details for each chart. Cohesive devices such as 'In contrast', 'In the first chart', and 'By contrast' are managed effectively to guide the reader through the comparisons without any mechanical feel or awkward referencing.

Lexical Resource: Band 7.5

The writing demonstrates a sufficient and flexible range of vocabulary suited to academic reporting, using terms like 'proportion', 'accounted for', 'represented', and 'recorded'. Less common lexical items are used with good awareness of style and collocation, such as 'least common reason' and 'rather different pattern'. Word choice is generally precise, and there are no spelling or word-choice errors that impede communication, maintaining a natural flow throughout the text.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy: Band 8.0

The response exhibits a wide range of sentence structures, seamlessly mixing simple and complex forms with a high degree of accuracy. The majority of sentences are completely error-free, showcasing excellent control of verb tenses, prepositions, and punctuation. Complex clauses such as 'while buying property overseas showed the largest recent increase' and 'according to teachers, and the proportion of teachers who have noticed...' are handled effortlessly, with only very occasional minor slips that never obscure meaning.

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