Band 7.5 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 7.5 · Cambridge IELTS 11 · 2026-08-21

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 illustrate the proportion of British university students at a specific institution in England who were able to speak foreign languages in 2000 and 2010.

Overall, it is clear that the majority of students could speak at least one language other than English in both years. However, while the proportion of students speaking Spanish and those fluent in two foreign languages grew over the decade, the popularity of French declined significantly, and the share of monolingual English speakers increased.

In 2000, students who spoke only English represented 20% of the population, matching the proportion of Spanish speakers (20%). French speakers and those who spoke "Another language" each accounted for 15% of the total, while those fluent in German made up 10%. The remaining 10% of students were bilingual, speaking two additional languages alongside English.

By 2010, Spanish had become the most widely spoken additional language, rising to 35%. Similarly, the proportion of students capable of speaking two foreign languages grew to 15%, while those speaking "Another language" also saw a modest rise to 20%. In contrast, the figure for French-only speakers dropped sharply to 10%, aligning with German speakers, who decreased to 10% as well. Meanwhile, the proportion of students unable to speak any foreign language grew to 25%

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 7.5

The response effectively addresses all parts of the task. You have provided a clear overview of the main trends and successfully selected and reported key features from the charts. The comparison between the two years is well-integrated, and you have accurately highlighted the significant shifts, such as the rise in Spanish speakers and the decline in French. The data is presented clearly, and the inclusion of specific percentages supports your summary well. The response is well-structured and covers all the necessary information to provide a comprehensive overview of the data provided.

Coherence and Cohesion — Band 7.5

The response is logically organized, with a clear introduction, an overview paragraph, and two body paragraphs that group the data effectively. Cohesive devices are used appropriately, such as 'However,' 'In contrast,' and 'Meanwhile,' which help guide the reader through the comparisons. The progression of ideas is smooth, and the paragraphing is logical. Each paragraph has a clear focus, and the transition between the general overview and the specific details is handled well. The use of referencing is consistent and clear throughout the text.

Lexical Resource — Band 7.0

You have used a sufficient range of vocabulary to describe the data accurately. Phrases like 'proportion of,' 'fluctuated,' 'declined significantly,' and 'modest rise' demonstrate a good command of academic language. The vocabulary is precise and appropriate for a report of this nature. While the range is solid, incorporating a few more sophisticated collocations or varied synonyms for 'increase' and 'decrease' could elevate the response further. Overall, the lexical control is strong, and there are no errors that impede communication.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 7.5

The response displays a good variety of complex sentence structures, such as the use of subordinate clauses ('while the proportion of students... grew') and participial phrases. The grammar is highly accurate, with very few errors. Punctuation is used correctly, and the sentence construction is varied and fluent. The majority of your sentences are error-free, demonstrating a high level of control over English grammar. The clarity of your writing is excellent, and the structure supports the logical flow of the information presented.

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