Band 5.5 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer
Overall Band Score: 5.5 · Cambridge IELTS 11 · 2026-08-17
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 compare the proportions of British students at university in England who could speak other languages apart from English in 2000 and 2010.
Overall, Spanish was most popular in both periods of 2000 and 2010, while no other language students declined in 2010 by the margin of 10%. Speakers of Two other languages, and another language increased their contribution by 5% in 2010. German was the only language whose proportion remained constant in both eras.
In 2000 and 2010, Spanish remained the highest proportion, while there was only a 5% increase in 2010 and a surge from 30 to 35%. French and another language had the same position at the start of the 21st century, but at the end of the first decade, another language outweighed French.
In contrast, the percentage of students who spoke no other language falling back in the next ten years was from 20 to 10%. Another language students experienced an upward trend and showed a slight increase of 5% at the end of the decade. German was the only language whose speakers remained stable in both periods.
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
You have successfully identified the main trends and provided relevant comparisons between 2000 and 2010. You covered all categories (Spanish, French, German, 'two other languages', 'another language', and 'no other language'). However, the analysis is slightly hampered by some confusing phrasing, such as 'no other language students declined', which is ambiguous. Additionally, the statement that 'another language outweighed French' is a good observation, but the overall summary could be more precise regarding the specific percentages. To reach a higher band, ensure that your data reporting is crystal clear and that you avoid contradictory or confusing statements when describing the shifts in proportions.
Coherence and Cohesion — Band 5.5
The essay is logically organized into an introduction, an overview, and two body paragraphs. You use some cohesive devices like 'In contrast' and 'Overall' to guide the reader. However, the progression of ideas is occasionally disrupted by awkward phrasing. For example, the transition between the overview and the body paragraphs is a bit mechanical. The referencing is generally clear, but the internal structure of the sentences sometimes makes the logical flow feel a bit disjointed. Improving the variety of linking words and ensuring that each paragraph has a clear, singular focus would enhance the coherence of your writing.
Lexical Resource — Band 5.5
You have a sufficient range of vocabulary to convey the main points of the charts. You use terms like 'proportions', 'remained constant', 'upward trend', and 'outweighed' effectively. However, there are some inaccuracies in word choice and collocation, such as 'no other language students declined' (which is confusing) and 'remained the highest proportion' (a proportion is a number, not an entity that remains). You also repeat 'another language' frequently, which limits the sophistication of your lexical range. Using synonyms or more precise descriptors for the categories would improve your score.
Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 5.5
You demonstrate a mix of simple and complex sentence structures. While you attempt to use complex sentences, some contain grammatical errors that slightly impede clarity, such as 'no other language students declined in 2010 by the margin of 10%'. There are also issues with preposition usage and article placement. While these errors do not prevent the reader from understanding the general meaning, they occur frequently enough to prevent a higher score. Focusing on subject-verb agreement and ensuring that your complex sentences are grammatically sound will help you achieve a higher band.
See this exact question answered at other band scores — the same prompt compared across bands.
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