Band 8.0 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 8.0 · 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 8.0)

The pie charts compare the proportions of British students at a particular university who could speak languages other than English in 2000 and 2010.

Overall, the proportion of students who spoke no language other than English increased over the period. By contrast, Spanish became less common, while the proportions of students speaking another language or two other languages increased.

In 2000, Spanish was the most widely spoken additional language, accounting for 20% of students. French was the second most common, at 15%, while German and two other languages were spoken by 10% each. A further 15% of students could speak another language. Meanwhile, 30% of students were unable to speak any language other than English, making this the largest single category overall.

By 2010, the proportion of students who spoke no other language had risen to 35%, an increase of 5 percentage points. In contrast, the figure for Spanish halved from 20% to 10%, while French and German both declined to 10%. The proportion speaking another language increased from 15% to 20%, and the percentage able to speak two other languages rose from 10% to 15%.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 8.0

The response effectively addresses all parts of the task. You have provided a clear overview of the main trends and supported these with accurate data points from the charts. The comparison between the two years is well-handled, and the selection of key features—such as the rise in students speaking no other language and the decline in Spanish—is appropriate. The information is logically grouped, and the report is balanced, ensuring that all categories are mentioned. You have successfully met the requirements for an Academic Task 1 response by summarizing the data without unnecessary repetition.

Coherence and Cohesion — Band 8.0

The response is well-organized with a clear structure. Each paragraph has a distinct focus: the introduction, the overview, and the detailed body paragraphs. You have used cohesive devices such as 'By contrast', 'Meanwhile', and 'In contrast' effectively to link ideas and guide the reader through the data. The progression of information is logical, moving from the general overview to specific details for each year. Paragraphing is used appropriately, and the referencing is clear throughout the text, contributing to a smooth flow of information.

Lexical Resource — Band 7.5

You have used a sufficient range of vocabulary to describe the data accurately. Phrases like 'proportion of students', 'widely spoken', 'accounting for', and 'percentage points' demonstrate good control of topic-specific language. The vocabulary is precise and appropriate for an academic report. While the range is solid, incorporating a few more sophisticated synonyms or varied ways to describe trends (e.g., 'witnessed a decline' or 'remained the most prevalent') could elevate the response further. There are no spelling or word-choice errors that impede communication.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 8.0

The response displays a good variety of complex structures, such as the use of subordinate clauses ('who could speak languages other than English') and comparative structures ('the proportion... had risen to 35%, an increase of 5 percentage points'). The grammar is highly accurate, with the majority of sentences being error-free. Punctuation is used correctly to separate clauses and list data points. The control over tense usage is consistent, accurately reflecting the past timeframe of the data provided in the charts.

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