Band 5.5 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer
Overall Band Score: 5.5 · Cambridge IELTS 11 · 2026-08-19
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 two charts depict the proportions of British students at one university in England who were able to speak other languages in addition to English, in 2000and 2010.
Overall, both charts show a significant amount of students were not able to speak other language than English. Spanish, German, and French are the languages which are spoken by university students. Another language have proportion in both charts. Students can also speak two other languages .
In 2000, a big proportion of 30% students dont know any other language, on the other hand Spanish was spoken by 20% students, whereas another language covers 15%. French was spoken 15% and two other language covers 10%.
In contrast, students were not able to to speak any other language than English in 2010, which is 35%. Spanish, French, and German are spoken by students at 10%, whereas student used to speak another language about 20%, while two other languages are spoken with 15%.
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
The response covers the main features of the charts, identifying the key trends in language proficiency for 2000 and 2010. However, the reporting is somewhat mechanical and lacks a clear, analytical comparison between the two years. While the data is presented, the description of the 'no language' category in 2010 is slightly confusingly phrased, and the summary of the languages (Spanish, French, German) is not fully accurate based on the visual data provided. To reach a higher band, you should focus on grouping the data more effectively and highlighting the most significant changes, such as the increase in the 'no other language' category.
Coherence and Cohesion — Band 5.5
The essay is organised into logical paragraphs, which helps the reader follow the structure. However, the use of cohesive devices is somewhat repetitive and occasionally mechanical. For example, the transition 'In contrast' is used, but the internal flow within paragraphs is sometimes disjointed. The referencing is occasionally unclear, such as in the second paragraph where the list of languages is mentioned without a clear link to the data. Improving the variety of linking words and ensuring that each sentence flows naturally from the previous one would significantly enhance the coherence of your writing.
Lexical Resource — Band 5.5
The vocabulary used is adequate for the task but remains quite basic and repetitive. Phrases like 'a big proportion' and 'covers' are used frequently. There are also some inaccuracies in word choice, such as 'Another language have proportion', which is grammatically and lexically awkward. To improve, you should aim to use a wider range of vocabulary to describe trends, such as 'a significant increase', 'remained stable', or 'accounted for'. You should also focus on using more precise terminology when referring to statistical data and language categories.
Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 5.5
The response contains a mix of simple and some attempts at complex sentence structures. However, there are frequent grammatical errors that occasionally impede clarity, such as 'a big proportion of 30% students dont know' (missing articles and apostrophes) and 'Another language have proportion' (subject-verb agreement). Punctuation is also inconsistent, particularly with the use of commas. While the meaning is generally understandable, the frequency of these errors prevents the writing from reaching a higher band. Focusing on subject-verb agreement and the correct use of articles would be a good starting point for improvement.
See this exact question answered at other band scores — the same prompt compared across bands.
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