Band 5.5 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 5.5 · Cambridge IELTS 11 · 2026-08-05

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 5.5)

The figures demonstrate the percentage of English students at a institute in England who could speak other languages besides English in 2000 and 2010.

The information is given as different proportions using different patterns.

In 2000, the percentage of students that could speak only English was 30 while students that could talk in other languages were 70 per cent. If you would dissect these figures then you will come to know that 15 per cent students were able to talk in French however 15 per cent of students could talk in another language than English. Moreover 20 per cent could speak Spanish. In addition 10 per cent could speak German only and 10 per cent were able to speak two other languages.

Nevertheless in 2010, this data changed considerably. For example 35 per cent of students were those who couldn't speak any other language while 20 percent could speak another language besides English. 10 percent could speak German, 10 percent could speak French and 10 per cent could talk in Spanish. But 15 percent could speak two other languages than English.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 5.5

The response provides a basic overview of the data, but it lacks a clear 'overview' paragraph that highlights the most significant trends or differences between the two years. While the figures are reported, the analysis is somewhat mechanical and lacks a synthesis of the main features. For instance, the report would be stronger if it explicitly noted the shift from a majority of students speaking other languages in 2000 to a more balanced distribution in 2010. The inclusion of specific data points is accurate, but the lack of a clear summary of trends limits the score.

Coherence and Cohesion — Band 5.5

The essay is organised into paragraphs, which helps the reader follow the progression of information. However, the use of cohesive devices is somewhat repetitive and occasionally mechanical (e.g., 'In addition', 'Moreover', 'Nevertheless'). The referencing is generally clear, but the flow between sentences could be improved to create a more natural, academic tone. The transition between the 2000 data and the 2010 data is functional but lacks sophisticated linking to highlight the contrast between the two time periods.

Lexical Resource — Band 5.5

The vocabulary is adequate for the task but remains quite basic. Phrases like 'talk in' and 'another language than English' are repetitive and slightly informal for an academic report. There is little evidence of less common lexical items or precise collocations. To improve, the student should focus on using more varied verbs for reporting data (e.g., 'accounted for', 'represented', 'fluctuated') and more precise terminology to describe language proficiency.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 5.5

The student uses a mix of simple and complex sentence structures. There are several grammatical errors, such as 'at a institute' (should be 'an institute') and '15 per cent students' (should be '15 per cent of students'). The use of 'If you would dissect' is overly informal and not appropriate for an academic task. While the errors do not generally impede communication, they are frequent enough to prevent a higher score. More attention to articles, prepositions, and formal register is needed.

See this exact question answered at other band scores — the same prompt compared across bands.

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