Band 5.5 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 5.5 · IELTS Complete Catalyst · 2026-10-16

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 illustrate the proportion of teachers response for foreign languages in Britian to a survey concerning why their students are learning a foreign language.

Overall, teachers reported the common reason for learning owing to the highest proportion of travelling, whereas foreign partner was the lowest common reason. In addition, the recent increase in buying property overseas was the highest, while travelling was the lowest category.

In terms of common reasons, travelling was accounted with 33% for aquiring the other language. This was followed by business work with 26%. Moreover, the segment of buying property overseas was recorded with 19% for learning foreign language, whereas personal development and social contacts were just accounted with 7%. Additionally, general interest in languages appeared with 5%. However, from foreign partner only 3% of proportion acquired foreign language.

In terms of recent increase, buying property overseas was accounted with 34% for aquiring the other language. This was followed by business work with 19%. Moreover, the category of social contacts was recorded with 15% for learning foreign language. The segment of general interest witnessed the proportion of 6%, whereas personal development and social contacts were just accounted with 3%. Additionally, there was 15% of proportion which was recorded as no change in acquiring foreign language.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response: Band 5.5

You identify the main patterns in both charts and include several accurate figures: travel is the leading common reason at 33%, foreign partners the smallest at 3%, and buying property overseas the largest reported recent increase at 34%. The overview is relevant, and the response covers both charts. However, a key figure is misreported: in the recent-increase chart, personal development is 4%, while social contacts is 15%; the report gives 3% for personal development and repeats social contacts. Also, the second chart includes 15% reporting no change, which you mention but do not clearly distinguish from reasons for an increase. More precise comparison and checking each category would make the coverage more complete and clear.

Coherence and Cohesion: Band 6.0

The report has a coherent overall arrangement: an introduction, a summary of the main features, and separate paragraphs for the two charts. This makes the information easy to locate. Linking phrases such as “This was followed by” and “Moreover” help signal comparisons, although their repeated use makes the progression somewhat mechanical. Some connections are also unclear: “whereas personal development and social contacts were just accounted with 3%” conflicts with the earlier 15% figure for social contacts, and the final sentence about “no change” is added after the increase categories without a clear transition. Grouping the smaller figures together and using more precise references would improve cohesion.

Lexical Resource: Band 5.5

You use relevant chart-reporting vocabulary, including “proportion,” “category,” “segment,” and “recorded,” and the meaning is generally understandable. However, several word choices and collocations are inaccurate or repetitive, such as “teachers response,” “was accounted with,” and “acquiring the other language.” “Common reason” is also repeated where “most common reason” or “leading reason” would be more natural. There are spelling errors in “Britian” and “aquiring,” and “business work” is not a natural label for the chart’s business/work category. A more precise range of reporting verbs and accurate collocations would make the description clearer and more fluent.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy: Band 5.5

You attempt a mix of sentence forms, including contrast clauses with “whereas” and sequencing structures such as “This was followed by…”. The overall meaning can usually be followed, but some grammatical patterns are not controlled, particularly in the repeated passive constructions. For example, “travelling was accounted with 33%” and “the segment … was recorded with 19%” use incorrect verb-preposition patterns; “teachers response” also needs a possessive form. The opening sentence is awkwardly structured, and “from foreign partner only 3% of proportion acquired foreign language” lacks a clear grammatical relationship between the figures and the reason. Use direct constructions such as “Travel was cited by 33% of teachers” to improve accuracy and clarity.

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