Band 9.0 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 9.0 · Cambridge IELTS 11 · 2026-08-01

IELTS Writing Task 1 question

The charts below show the proportions of British students at one university in England who were able to speak other languages in addition to English, in 2000 and 2010

Summarise the information by selecting and reporting the main features, and make comparisons where relevant.

Student answer (Band 9.0)

The two pie charts illustrate the proportions of British students who were able to speak languages other than English in 2000 and 2010.

Overall, there was a clear improvement in multilingual ability over the ten-year period. The proportion of students who could not speak any language other than English declined markedly, whereas Spanish became increasingly popular. In addition, the percentages of students speaking another language or two other languages also rose, while French experienced a slight decline and German remained unchanged.

In 2000, 30% of British students spoke only English, making this the largest category. By comparison, 20% were able to speak Spanish, while both French and another language accounted for 15% each. The figures for German and two other languages were identical, at 10%.

By 2010, the percentage of students with no additional language had fallen substantially to 20%. In contrast, the proportion speaking Spanish increased significantly to 35%, making it by far the most widely spoken foreign language. Likewise, the percentage of students able to speak another language rose from 15% to 20%, while those speaking two other languages increased from 10% to 15%. Conversely, the proportion of French speakers declined from 15% to 10%, whereas the figure for German remained stable at 10% throughout the period.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 9.0

The response is excellent. You have fully addressed all parts of the task by identifying the main features and providing a clear comparison between the two years. The overview is concise and effectively highlights the key trends, such as the decline in monolingual students and the rise of Spanish. You have accurately selected and reported the data, ensuring that all categories are covered. The information is well-supported by the figures provided in the charts, and the comparison between 2000 and 2010 is logical and easy to follow. This is a comprehensive and well-structured summary that meets all the requirements of an Academic Task 1 response.

Coherence and Cohesion — Band 9.0

The response is logically organized with a clear progression of ideas. You have used paragraphing effectively to separate the introduction, the overview, and the detailed body paragraphs. Cohesive devices such as 'In addition', 'By comparison', 'In contrast', and 'Conversely' are used naturally and accurately to link sentences and ideas. The flow of information is smooth, and the referencing is precise, making the text very easy to read. There is no evidence of mechanical or repetitive use of linking words, and the overall structure is highly coherent.

Lexical Resource — Band 9.0

You have demonstrated a wide and precise range of vocabulary. The use of terms such as 'multilingual ability', 'declined markedly', 'accounted for', and 'remained stable' shows a sophisticated control of language. The vocabulary is not only accurate but also appropriate for an academic report. You have successfully avoided repetition by using varied synonyms and structures to describe the changes in data. There are no spelling errors, and the word choices are consistently natural and precise, reflecting a high level of lexical proficiency.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 9.0

The response displays a wide range of grammatical structures with full flexibility and accuracy. You have used complex sentences effectively, such as 'The proportion of students who could not speak any language other than English declined markedly, whereas Spanish became increasingly popular.' The punctuation is accurate throughout, and there are no grammatical errors. The control over verb tenses and sentence construction is excellent, allowing for a clear and professional presentation of the data. The writing is error-free, which is characteristic of the highest band level.

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