Band 5.0 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer
Overall Band Score: 5.0 · Cambridge IELTS 11 · 2026-08-29
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 5.0)
The pie chart illustrates the proportions of British students who were able to speak other languages in addition to English at one university in England, in 2000 and 2010.Overall, the maximum British students speak no other languages than English in both 2000 and 2010.
As it is presented in pie chart, that in 2000 most of students equal to 30% cannot speak other languages in addition to English. Firstly, 20% of students know how to speak Spanish. Secondly, 15% of students know how yo speak French and another language. Thirdly, only 10% of students know how to speak German and the same number of students speak German in 2010. Fourthly, in 2010 10% of students know how to speak Spanish and French. Second Lastly, only 15% of students know two other languages. Lastly, in 2010 only 20% of students know how to speak French and 35% of students were cannot able to speak other languages.
AI examiner evaluation
| Criterion | Band |
|---|---|
| Task Achievement / Task Response | 5.0 |
| Coherence and Cohesion | 5.0 |
| Lexical Resource | 5.0 |
| Grammatical Range and Accuracy | 5.0 |
| Overall | 5.0 |
Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 5.0
The response addresses the task by identifying the main features, but the analysis is inconsistent and contains factual inaccuracies. For instance, you state that 30% of students in 2000 could not speak other languages, whereas the chart indicates 30% for 'no other language'. However, your reporting of the 2010 data is confusing, particularly the claim that 35% were 'cannot able to speak other languages', which contradicts the visual data. The summary lacks a clear comparison between the two years, which is essential for a high band score. To improve, ensure you accurately transcribe the data points and focus on highlighting the most significant trends or shifts between 2000 and 2010 rather than listing every percentage point mechanically.
Coherence and Cohesion — Band 5.0
The essay is organized into two paragraphs, but the progression of ideas is mechanical and repetitive. The use of transition words like 'Firstly', 'Secondly', 'Thirdly', and 'Fourthly' is overused and creates a list-like structure rather than a cohesive report. Furthermore, the referencing is sometimes unclear, such as in the final sentence where the connection between the categories is muddled. To improve, try to group related data points together—for example, compare the 'no other language' category across both years in one section, and then discuss the specific language categories in another. This will create a more logical flow.
Lexical Resource — Band 5.0
The vocabulary is limited and repetitive, relying heavily on basic phrasing such as 'know how to speak' and 'proportions of students'. There are also errors in word choice and collocation, such as 'Second Lastly' and 'were cannot able to speak', which impede the clarity of your writing. To reach a higher band, you should aim to use a wider range of vocabulary to describe trends, such as 'accounted for', 'represented', 'fluctuated', or 'remained stable'. Additionally, ensure that your terminology is precise; for example, use 'monolingual' or 'non-English speakers' to avoid repeating the same phrases throughout the text.
Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 5.0
The response contains frequent grammatical errors that occasionally cause difficulty for the reader. Examples include 'the maximum British students speak' (incorrect superlative usage), 'most of students equal to 30%' (awkward phrasing), and 'were cannot able to speak' (incorrect verb construction). While there is an attempt to use complex structures, they are often faulty. To improve, focus on mastering basic sentence structures and subject-verb agreement before attempting more complex forms. Pay close attention to the use of auxiliary verbs and ensure that your sentences are grammatically complete and correctly punctuated.
See this exact question answered at other band scores — the same prompt compared across bands.
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