Band 6.0 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer
Overall Band Score: 6.0 · Cambridge IELTS 11 · 2026-08-11
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 6.0)
The two pie charts illustrate the percentages of British students in England who could spoke other languages besides English at one university, in 2000 and 2010.
Overall, students who spoke no other language accounted for the largest contribution in both years, and this figure slightly increased over the period. In contrast, the percentages of students who spoke another language and two other languages rose, whereas the figures for Spanish and French declined.
An analysis of the image reveals that, in 2000, the proportion of students who spoke no other language recorded 30%, while the figure increases slightly to 35% in 2010. Moreover, in 2000, the percentages of students who were able to speak another language and two other languages recorded 15% and 10% respectively, whereas the figure for both categories climbed to 20% and 15% respectively by 2010.
From the image it is evident that, in 2000, students who spoke Spanish and French accounted for 20% and 15%, whilst these figures dipped to 10% in 2010. Furthermore, students who were able to speak German accounted for 10% in 2000 and remained unchanged in 2010.
AI examiner evaluation
| Criterion | Band |
|---|---|
| Task Achievement / Task Response | 6.5 |
| Coherence and Cohesion | 6.5 |
| Lexical Resource | 6.0 |
| Grammatical Range and Accuracy | 5.5 |
| Overall | 6.0 |
Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 6.5
The response covers all key features of the charts, including the main trends and specific data points for both 2000 and 2010. You successfully identified the overall trend of the 'no other language' category and made relevant comparisons between the years. The overview is clear and provides a good summary of the main changes. To reach a higher band, ensure that all data points are accurate; for instance, you mentioned that Spanish and French figures dipped to 10%, but the chart shows Spanish at 10% and French at 10% in 2010, which is accurate, but ensure your grouping of these categories is clear to the reader.
Coherence and Cohesion — Band 6.5
The response is logically organized with a clear introduction, overview, and body paragraphs. You use cohesive devices such as 'In contrast', 'Moreover', and 'whilst' effectively to link ideas. Paragraphing is used appropriately to separate different aspects of the data. The progression of information is smooth, moving from the general overview to specific details. To improve, ensure that referencing is always precise; for example, when discussing the 'two other languages' category, ensure the transition between the 2000 and 2010 data is as seamless as possible to avoid a slightly mechanical feel.
Lexical Resource — Band 6.0
You demonstrate an adequate range of vocabulary for the task, using terms like 'accounted for', 'proportion', 'respectively', and 'remained unchanged'. These are appropriate for an academic report. There are some minor issues with word choice, such as 'could spoke' in the introduction, which should be 'could speak'. While the vocabulary is sufficient to convey the information clearly, incorporating more sophisticated synonyms for 'increased' or 'decreased' (e.g., 'surged', 'plummeted', 'fluctuated') would help elevate the lexical range to a higher band.
Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 5.5
The response uses a mix of simple and complex sentence structures. However, there are several grammatical errors that persist. For example, 'who could spoke' is incorrect; it should be 'who could speak'. Additionally, 'the figure increases slightly' should be in the past tense ('increased') to maintain consistency with the 2000/2010 timeframe. While these errors do not impede communication, they indicate a need for more careful proofreading of verb tenses and modal verb usage. Increasing the variety of complex structures while maintaining accuracy will help improve this score.
See this exact question answered at other band scores — the same prompt compared across bands.
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