Band 7.5 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer
Overall Band Score: 7.5 · 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 7.5)
The pie charts compare the proportions of British university students in England who could speak languages other than English in 2000 and 2010.
Overall, Spanish was the most widely spoken additional language in both years, while the proportion of students who spoke no other language declined substantially. The figures for Spanish, two other languages, and another language increased, whereas German remained unchanged.
In 2000, Spanish was the most popular additional language, accounting for 30% of students. This figure rose by 5 percentage points to 35% in 2010. French and another language each represented 15% in 2000; however, by 2010, the proportion speaking another language had increased to 20%, surpassing French by 5 percentage points. Similarly, the share of students who could speak two other languages rose from 10% to 15%.
In contrast, the proportion of students who spoke no other language fell significantly, from 20% in 2000 to 10% in 2010. Meanwhile, the percentage of German speakers remained stable at the same level in both years. Overall, the figures indicate a shift towards greater linguistic diversity among British university students over the decade.
AI examiner evaluation
| Criterion | Band |
|---|---|
| Task Achievement / Task Response | 7.5 |
| Coherence and Cohesion | 7.5 |
| Lexical Resource | 7.0 |
| Grammatical Range and Accuracy | 7.5 |
| Overall | 7.5 |
Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 7.5
The response fully addresses all requirements of the task. You have provided a clear overview of the main trends and successfully selected and reported the key features of the data. The comparisons between 2000 and 2010 are accurate and well-supported by the figures provided. For example, noting the 5 percentage point increase in Spanish and the significant decline in students speaking no other language demonstrates a strong grasp of the data. The information is logically grouped, and the summary effectively highlights the shift towards linguistic diversity without omitting any significant trends.
Coherence and Cohesion — Band 7.5
The response is well-organized with a clear logical progression. You have used paragraphing effectively to separate the overview from the detailed analysis. Cohesive devices such as 'In contrast', 'Meanwhile', and 'Similarly' are used appropriately to link ideas and guide the reader through the comparisons. The referencing is clear, and the flow of information is smooth throughout the text. There is no evidence of mechanical or repetitive use of linking words, and the structure supports the overall clarity of the report.
Lexical Resource — Band 7.0
You have used a sufficient range of vocabulary to describe the data with precision. Phrases such as 'declined substantially', 'surpassing French', and 'remained stable' demonstrate a good command of academic language. The vocabulary is natural and fits the context of a data report well. While the range is adequate for a high band, incorporating a few more sophisticated synonyms for 'increased' or 'proportion' could further enhance the lexical variety. Overall, the word choice is accurate and contributes to the professional tone of the response.
Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 7.5
The response displays a high level of grammatical accuracy. You have successfully used a mix of simple and complex sentence structures, such as the use of 'whereas' and 'although' constructions. Punctuation is used correctly, and there are no significant errors that impede communication. The majority of your sentences are error-free, and the control over verb tenses is consistent with the requirements of describing past data. The writing is fluent and demonstrates a solid command of English grammar.
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