Band 5.5 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 5.5 · Cambridge IELTS 11 · 2026-08-13

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 COMPARES THE NUMBER OF BRITISH PUPILS (IN PERCENTAGE) STUDYING IN A PARTICULAR UNIVERISTY IN ENGLAND WHO WERE ABLE TO SPEAK OTHER LANGUAGES APART FROM ENGLISH IN 2000 AND 2010.

OVERALL, SIX CATEGORIES OF LANGUAGES ARE TAKEN INTO CONSIDERATION. MAJORITY OF THE STUDENTS WERE ABLE TO SPEAK ONLY ENGLISH IN BOTH THE YEARS, WHILE GERMAN WAS THE LEAST KNOWN LANGUAGE AMONG THE REST.

IN 2000, ENGLISH WAS THE PREDOMINANT LANGUAGE SPOKEN. 30% OF THE PUPILS ACCOUNTED IN 2000 AND 35% IN 2010. ANOTHER LANGUAGE AND FRENCH CAN BE SPOKEN BY 15% IN THE SAME YEAR, FOLLOWED BY GERMAN AND TWO OTHER LANGUAGES ACCOUNTING FOR 10%.

HOWEVER, ANOTHER LANGUAGE OTHER THAN ENGLISH CAN BE WELL COMMUNICATED BY 20% OF THE BRITISH STUDENTS IN 2010. IN ADDITION, TWO OTHER LANGUAGES ACCOUNTED FOR 15% IN THE SAME YEAR. MEANWHILE, SPANISH, FRENCH AND GERMAN LANGUAGES WERE KNOWN TO 10% OF THE PUPILS.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 5.0

The response covers the main features of the charts, but there are significant inaccuracies in data reporting. For example, you state that 30% of pupils spoke only English in 2000, whereas the chart indicates 30% spoke 'Two other languages'. Furthermore, the description of the 2010 data is confusing; you mention 35% for English, but the chart shows 20%. These data errors mean the task is not fully addressed, as the information provided is factually incorrect based on the source material. To improve, ensure you carefully cross-reference the labels and percentages before writing.

Coherence and Cohesion — Band 6.0

The essay is organized into logical paragraphs, which helps the reader follow the structure. You use some cohesive devices like 'However', 'In addition', and 'Meanwhile' to link ideas. However, the progression of information is sometimes hindered by the data inaccuracies mentioned in the Task Achievement section. The referencing is generally clear, but the overall flow feels a bit mechanical. To reach a higher band, focus on ensuring that the logical progression between sentences is supported by accurate data points, which will make your comparisons more natural and effective.

Lexical Resource — Band 6.0

The vocabulary is adequate for the task, using terms like 'predominant', 'accounted for', and 'categories'. However, there are some issues with word choice and precision. For instance, 'another language other than English can be well communicated' is slightly awkward phrasing. You also use 'pupils' to refer to university students, which is less appropriate than 'students' or 'undergraduates'. While the range is sufficient to convey the basic meaning, it lacks the sophistication and precision required for higher bands. Expanding your repertoire of reporting verbs and comparative phrases would be beneficial.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 5.5

You demonstrate a mix of simple and complex sentence structures. There are several grammatical errors, such as 'The pie charts compares' (subject-verb agreement) and 'accounted in 2000' (preposition error). Additionally, 'another language and French can be spoken by 15% in the same year' uses a passive construction that is slightly clunky. While these errors do not completely impede communication, they occur frequently enough to impact the overall fluency of the text. Focusing on subject-verb agreement and consistent tense usage will help improve your accuracy.

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

Browse more IELTS Writing model answers or get your own writing scored by the same AI examiner.