Band 6.0 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 6.0 · Cambridge IELTS 11 · 2026-08-14

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 provided pie charts compare the proportion of British students at one university in England who were able to speak other languages in addition to English across six categories in 2000 and 2010.

Overall, no other language spoken accounted for the largest share in both years. In addition, two other language and German only, each represented as the least spoken categories in 2000, while Spanish, French and German only, individually reported as the smallest proportions in 2010.

In 2000, 30% of British students spoke only English language, compared with 35% in 2010. This category was the most common in both the years. However, French language was spoken by 15% of the students in 2000. This number declined in 2010, accounting for 10%. Students spoke German only reported for 10% in 2000, which remained unchanged in 2010.

Students spoke Spanish only, on the other hand, accounted for 20% in 2000. This figure dropped to half in 2010, comprising of 10%. Similarly, students who had knowledge of another language represented 15% in 2000, which climbed to 20% in 2010. Nevertheless, British students speaking two other languages contributed 10% of the total proportion. This number increased to 15% in 2010.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 6.0

You have successfully identified the main features and provided a clear overview of the data. You covered all categories and made relevant comparisons between 2000 and 2010. However, there are some inaccuracies in your reporting. For instance, you stated that 'no other language spoken' accounted for the largest share, but the data shows 'English only' was the largest category. Additionally, your description of the smallest categories in 2010 is slightly confusing. To improve, ensure that your data extraction is precise and that your overview accurately reflects the most significant trends, such as the increase in students speaking two or more languages.

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 addition,' 'However,' and 'Similarly' to link ideas. Paragraphing is used appropriately to group related information. While the flow is generally good, some transitions feel slightly mechanical, and the referencing in the second paragraph is a bit cluttered. To reach a higher band, focus on using a wider variety of cohesive devices more naturally and ensure that the progression of ideas between sentences is smoother.

Lexical Resource — Band 6.0

You demonstrate a sufficient range of vocabulary to convey the information clearly. Phrases like 'accounted for the largest share,' 'remained unchanged,' and 'climbed to' are used effectively. There are some minor issues with word choice and collocation, such as 'Students spoke German only reported for 10%,' which is grammatically awkward. To improve, try to incorporate more precise academic collocations and avoid repetitive phrasing. Using a broader range of synonyms for 'increase' and 'decrease' would also enhance your lexical score.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 5.5

You use a mix of simple and complex sentence structures, which is appropriate for this task. However, there are several grammatical errors that occur throughout the text, such as 'Students spoke Spanish only... accounted for 20%' (should be 'Students who spoke...') and 'comprising of 10%' (the preposition 'of' is unnecessary after 'comprising'). While these errors do not impede communication, they are frequent enough to prevent a higher score. Focus on subject-verb agreement and the correct use of participial phrases to improve your accuracy.

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

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