Band 6.0 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 6.0 · Cambridge IELTS 11 · 2026-08-18

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 two pie charts compare the percentage of British pupils who spoke languages other than English in a UK university over a decade period starting from 2000 to 2010.

Overall, the proportion of students who spoke no other languages was the highest in both given years, whereas learners who knew German only were at the lowest percentage in both years.

In 2000, the figure showed 30 % of university learners knew no other languages, while almost half of them were aware of French and another language. Moreover, a similar percentage of 10% was shared by pupils who spoke German and two other languages, paradoxically a twofold increase was experienced by Spanish language.

In 2010, the pattern depicted a slight increase of 5% in students who were able to speak two other languages and no other languages, in contrast Spanish learners plummeted to half (10%). Furthermore, the percentage of pupils who knew any other language rose significantly to 20%. Additionally, French and German spoken university learners were 10%.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 6.0

The response covers the main features of the charts and makes relevant comparisons. You successfully identified the highest and lowest categories and noted the key shifts over the decade. However, there are some inaccuracies in data reporting. For instance, you mention 'almost half' for French in 2000, but the chart indicates 30%. Additionally, the description of the Spanish category is slightly confusing, as you mention a 'twofold increase' in 2000, which is unclear given the data provided. To reach a higher band, ensure that data points are transcribed with greater precision and that comparisons are clearly linked to the specific years and categories provided in the visual prompt.

Coherence and Cohesion — Band 6.5

The essay is logically organized into an introduction, an overview, and two body paragraphs. You use cohesive devices such as 'Overall', 'In 2000', 'In 2010', and 'Furthermore' to guide the reader through the information. However, some transitions feel slightly mechanical, and the referencing is occasionally unclear, particularly when discussing the shifts in language categories. The paragraphing is appropriate, and there is a clear progression of ideas from the general overview to the specific details of each year. Improving the variety of cohesive devices would enhance the flow of the response.

Lexical Resource — Band 6.0

You demonstrate an adequate range of vocabulary for the task, using terms like 'proportion', 'depicted', 'plummeted', and 'significantly'. There are some minor inaccuracies in word choice, such as 'French and German spoken university learners', which is slightly awkward phrasing. You also use 'paradoxically' in a context that does not quite fit the data provided. While the vocabulary is sufficient to convey the meaning, it lacks the precision and sophistication required for a higher band. Focusing on more natural collocations and precise terminology for describing statistical trends will help improve your score.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 6.0

You use a mix of simple and complex sentence structures. While the meaning is generally clear, there are several grammatical errors, such as 'over a decade period starting from 2000 to 2010' (should be 'between 2000 and 2010') and 'French and German spoken university learners' (should be 'students who spoke French and German'). There are also minor issues with preposition use and sentence construction. Despite these errors, they do not impede communication. To improve, focus on ensuring subject-verb agreement and refining the structure of complex sentences to ensure they are error-free.

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

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