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 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, Spanish students proportion increased dramatically to double.

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 provides a clear overview and identifies key trends, such as the increase in students speaking two other languages and the decline in Spanish speakers. However, the data reporting is inconsistent and occasionally inaccurate. For instance, you state that 'half of them were aware of French and another language' in 2000, but the chart shows 30% for French and 15% for 'two other languages'. Additionally, the claim that Spanish students 'increased dramatically to double' is confusingly phrased. To improve, ensure that data points are transcribed precisely and that comparisons are clearly linked to the specific years and categories provided in the visual aid.

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', and 'In 2010' to guide the reader through the information. However, some transitions are slightly mechanical, and the internal cohesion within paragraphs could be improved. For example, the final sentence of the second paragraph is a list of figures that lacks a clear connection to the preceding analysis. Using a wider variety of linking phrases and ensuring that each sentence flows naturally from the previous one would enhance the overall coherence of your writing.

Lexical Resource — Band 6.0

You demonstrate an adequate range of vocabulary for the task, using terms like 'proportion', 'plummeted', and 'depicted'. However, there are some inaccuracies in word choice and collocation. For example, 'Spanish students proportion' is awkward; it would be better to say 'the proportion of students speaking Spanish'. Similarly, 'French and German spoken university learners' is not standard English. To reach a higher band, focus on using more precise collocations and ensure that your vocabulary choices accurately reflect the data being described rather than using generic descriptors.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 6.0

You use a mix of simple and complex sentence structures, which is appropriate for this task. There are some grammatical errors, such as 'a decade period starting from 2000 to 2010' (which should be 'from 2000 to 2010' or 'between 2000 and 2010') and 'Spanish students proportion' (missing possessive). While these errors do not impede communication, they occur frequently enough to prevent a higher score. Focusing on subject-verb agreement and the correct use of prepositions will help improve your accuracy. Ensure that your complex sentences are constructed with precision to avoid ambiguity.

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

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