Band 5.5 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer
Overall Band Score: 5.5 · Cambridge IELTS 11 · 2026-08-08
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 pie charts depict number of British students enrolled in one of the England's university who can speak multiple languages along with their native language, English, during the period of 2000 and 2010.Overall, students were able to speak French, German, Spanish, and three other languages as well as English.
The larger proportion of pupils were able to speak only English and no other language i.e., 30% in 2000 which increased slightly to 35% in 2010. In addition, 20% people could speak Spanish and 15% knew French in 2000 that reduced to a total of 10% people who can interact via French and Spanish in 2010. However, in 2000, they were able to speak two another languages with a percentage of 10% students for each language, in 2010, proportion of students rose in one language to 15%, while for the other language the number remained same. Furthermore, there was another unknown language spoken by 15% of people in 2000, and it also increased to 20% in 2010.
AI examiner evaluation
| Criterion | Band |
|---|---|
| Task Achievement / Task Response | 5.5 |
| Coherence and Cohesion | 5.5 |
| Lexical Resource | 5.5 |
| Grammatical Range and Accuracy | 5.5 |
| Overall | 5.5 |
Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 5.5
The response covers the main features of the charts and makes relevant comparisons. You have successfully identified the key trends, such as the increase in students speaking only English and the shifts in language proficiency. However, the report lacks a clear overview paragraph that synthesizes the most significant trends at the beginning. Additionally, some data points are slightly confusing, such as the grouping of French and Spanish, which makes it difficult for the reader to verify the specific figures against the charts. To improve, ensure that each category is clearly distinguished and that your summary highlights the most striking changes between 2000 and 2010 more explicitly.
Coherence and Cohesion — Band 5.5
The response is organized into logical paragraphs, and there is a clear progression of ideas. You use some cohesive devices, such as 'In addition', 'However', and 'Furthermore', to link your sentences. However, the use of these devices is sometimes mechanical, and the referencing is occasionally unclear, particularly when discussing the 'two another languages' or the 'unknown language'. Improving the flow between sentences by using more varied transition words and ensuring that your references to specific data points are precise will help you achieve a higher band score for this criterion.
Lexical Resource — Band 5.5
You demonstrate an adequate range of vocabulary for the task, using terms like 'proportions', 'enrolled', and 'interact'. However, there are some inaccuracies in word choice and collocation, such as 'number of British students enrolled in one of the England's university' (should be 'an English university') and 'two another languages' (should be 'two other languages'). The vocabulary is generally functional but lacks the precision and variety required for higher bands. Focusing on more academic collocations and ensuring correct word forms will enhance your lexical range.
Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 5.5
You use a mix of simple and complex sentence structures. While the meaning is generally clear, there are several grammatical errors, such as 'during the period of 2000 and 2010' (should be 'between 2000 and 2010'), 'the larger proportion of pupils' (should be 'a larger proportion'), and 'the number remained same' (should be 'remained the same'). These errors do not impede communication, but they are frequent enough to prevent a higher score. Pay closer attention to article usage, prepositions, and subject-verb agreement to improve your accuracy.
See this exact question answered at other band scores — the same prompt compared across bands.
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