Band 6.5 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer
Overall Band Score: 6.5 · Cambridge IELTS 11 · 2026-08-03
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 6.5)
The pie charts compare the proportion of British students at a UK university who could speak languages other than English in 2000 and 2010.
Overall, there was a significant increase in the percentage of students who could speak at least one foreign language over the ten-year period. Additionally, Spanish remained the most popular foreign language spoken by students in both years.
In 2000, students who spoke no other language made up the largest group at 30%. However, this figure dropped drastically to just 10% in 2010. In contrast, the proportion of students who spoke only Spanish experienced the most dramatic growth, rising from 20% to peak at 35% in 2010, making it the dominant category. Regarding the remaining categories, the figures for students speaking "another language" and "two other languages" both saw an increase of 5%, reaching 20% and 15% respectively by 2010. Conversely, the percentage of French-only speakers experienced a slight decline from 15% to 10%. Meanwhile, the proportion of students who spoke only German remained completely unchanged, staying at 10% in both years.
AI examiner evaluation
| Criterion | Band |
|---|---|
| Task Achievement / Task Response | 6.5 |
| Coherence and Cohesion | 6.5 |
| Lexical Resource | 6.0 |
| Grammatical Range and Accuracy | 6.5 |
| Overall | 6.5 |
Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 6.5
The response effectively addresses all parts of the task. You have provided a clear overview of the main trends and successfully selected and reported key features from the charts. The comparison between the two years is well-integrated, and the data is used accurately to support the main points. For instance, you correctly identified the shift in the 'no other language' category and the growth in Spanish speakers. The information is well-summarised, and the response meets all requirements for a high-level Task 1 performance by highlighting both the significant changes and the stable elements, such as the German-only speakers.
Coherence and Cohesion — Band 6.5
The response is logically organised, with a clear introduction, a concise overview, and a well-structured body paragraph. Cohesive devices are used effectively to link ideas, such as 'In contrast', 'Regarding the remaining categories', and 'Conversely'. The progression of information is smooth, moving logically from the most significant changes to the more stable data points. Paragraphing is used appropriately to separate the overview from the detailed analysis, ensuring the reader can follow the argument without difficulty. The use of referencing is precise and contributes to the overall clarity of the report.
Lexical Resource — Band 6.0
You demonstrate a good range of vocabulary appropriate for an academic report. Phrases such as 'proportion of', 'drastically', 'dramatic growth', and 'dominant category' are used accurately and naturally. The vocabulary is sufficiently varied to describe trends without being repetitive. While the range is solid, incorporating a few more sophisticated collocations or precise academic synonyms could elevate the response further. However, the current usage is precise and contributes to a professional tone, with no errors in word choice or spelling that would impede communication.
Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 6.5
The response displays a high level of grammatical control. You have successfully used a mix of simple and complex sentence structures, such as the participial phrase 'making it the dominant category' and the use of subordinate clauses. The majority of sentences are error-free, and the punctuation is handled correctly throughout. There is a good variety of verb tenses and structures used to describe data trends, such as 'remained completely unchanged' and 'experienced a slight decline'. The accuracy is consistent, and there are no significant grammatical slips that affect the clarity of the report.
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