Band 5.5 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer
Overall Band Score: 5.5 · 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 5.5)
The pie charts illustrate the percentage of British students at a university in England, speaking languages other than English in the year 2000 and 2010.
Overall, the French, German, and Spanish speaking people are abundant throughout; moreover, individuals speaking more than two languages are also high floating (15%).
In the year 2000 to 2010, students speaking French and Spanish have decreased from 15% and 20% respectively to 10% each; however, German speakers remain constant. Trilingual students percentage increased from 15% to 20%; additionally, only English speaking people percentage spiked (30 to 35%).
In conclusion, native speakers and pupils belonging to other parts of the world increased between 2000 to 2010. French and Germans decreased while German remain constant.
AI examiner evaluation
| Criterion | Band |
|---|---|
| Task Achievement / Task Response | 5.0 |
| Coherence and Cohesion | 5.5 |
| Lexical Resource | 5.5 |
| Grammatical Range and Accuracy | 5.5 |
| Overall | 5.5 |
Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 5.0
The response fails to meet the minimum word count requirement of 150 words, which significantly impacts the task achievement. While you have identified some key features, the analysis is superficial and lacks the necessary detail to fully address the prompt. For instance, you mention that German speakers remain constant, but the data provided in the prompt (which you did not include) would likely show specific percentages that require more precise reporting. Furthermore, the conclusion contains contradictory information, stating that French and German speakers decreased while simultaneously claiming German remained constant. To improve, ensure you provide a more comprehensive overview and avoid factual inconsistencies.
Coherence and Cohesion — Band 5.5
The essay is organized into paragraphs, which is a positive step. However, the logical flow is hindered by the brevity of the response and some confusing statements. The use of cohesive devices like 'moreover,' 'however,' and 'additionally' is present, but they are sometimes used in a way that does not clearly connect the ideas. The conclusion is particularly problematic as it repeats information already stated and introduces a contradiction regarding the German speakers. To improve, focus on ensuring each paragraph has a clear topic sentence and that the information flows logically from one point to the next without repetition or contradiction.
Lexical Resource — Band 5.5
Your vocabulary is generally adequate for the task, but it lacks the precision and variety expected at higher bands. Phrases like 'high floating' are unnatural in this context, and 'spiked' is used to describe a relatively small change (30% to 35%), which is an inaccurate collocation. You rely on basic descriptors and struggle to use more sophisticated academic vocabulary to describe trends. To improve, try to incorporate a wider range of synonyms for 'increase' and 'decrease' and ensure that your word choices are appropriate for a formal academic report.
Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 5.5
The response contains a mix of simple and some attempted complex structures, but there are frequent grammatical errors. For example, 'the French, German, and Spanish speaking people are abundant' is awkward, and 'only English speaking people percentage spiked' is grammatically incorrect. There are also issues with subject-verb agreement and article usage throughout the text. While the meaning is generally clear, these errors occur frequently and detract from the overall quality of the writing. To improve, focus on mastering basic sentence construction and proofreading for common errors like missing articles and incorrect verb forms.
See this exact question answered at other band scores — the same prompt compared across bands.
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