Band 6.5 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 6.5 · Cambridge IELTS 11 · 2026-08-28

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 6.5)

The two pie charts illustrate the proportion of British students who could speak a second language apart from English at a university in England in 2000 and 2010.

Overall, it is evident that in both the years majority of the British students could not speak any other language. The number of students who could speak Spanish or French also declined, whereas the numbers of German remained stable.

The number of students who could not speak any other language other than English rose by 5% in 2010. There was also a noticeable decline in the number of British students who could speak Spanish or French, especially Spanish as it went from 20% in 2000 to 10% in 2010. In both the years, 10% of students were able to speak German along with English.

In 2010 15% of British students were able to speak two other languages, compared to 10% in 2000. 20% of the students in 2010 were able to speak a language apart from English, German, French and Spanish.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 6.5

The response covers the main features of the charts and makes relevant comparisons. You successfully identified the key trends, such as the increase in students speaking no other language and the decline in French/Spanish speakers. However, the report lacks precision in data reporting. For instance, you mention '20% of the students in 2010 were able to speak a language apart from English, German, French and Spanish', but the chart labels this as 'Other'. Furthermore, the comparison between the two years is sometimes vague. To reach a higher band, ensure that all data points are accurately transcribed and that the overview clearly highlights the most significant shifts across the entire period.

Coherence and Cohesion — Band 7.0

The response is logically organized with a clear introduction, overview, and body paragraphs. The progression of ideas is generally smooth, and you use cohesive devices such as 'whereas', 'in both the years', and 'compared to' to link information. However, some transitions feel slightly mechanical, and the paragraphing could be more refined to group related data more effectively. For example, the final paragraph introduces a new category ('Other') that could have been integrated more seamlessly into the overall analysis. Overall, the structure is clear and easy to follow throughout the report.

Lexical Resource — Band 6.5

You demonstrate an adequate range of vocabulary for the task, using terms like 'proportion', 'illustrate', and 'noticeable decline'. There is an attempt to use less common vocabulary, though some word choices are slightly repetitive or imprecise. For example, 'the numbers of German remained stable' should be 'the number of students speaking German'. Additionally, the phrasing 'in both the years' is slightly unnatural; 'in both years' or 'in both 2000 and 2010' would be more idiomatic. The vocabulary is sufficient to convey your meaning clearly, but more variety in reporting verbs and descriptors would enhance the quality.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 6.5

The response contains a mix of simple and complex sentence structures. While most sentences are clear, there are some minor grammatical inaccuracies. For instance, 'in both the years majority of the British students' is missing an article ('the majority'). You also use 'the numbers of German' instead of 'the number of students speaking German'. Despite these errors, your meaning is never obscured, and the punctuation is generally accurate. To improve, focus on subject-verb agreement and the correct use of articles when referring to specific groups or time periods.

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

Browse more IELTS Writing model answers or get your own writing scored by the same AI examiner.