Band 8.0 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 8.0 · Cambridge IELTS 11 · 2026-08-30

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 8.0)

The two pie charts compare the proportions of British students at a university in England who could speak languages other than English in **2000 and 2010**.

**Overall,** the proportion of students who spoke only English increased over the period, while the percentage who could speak at least one additional language declined slightly. Spanish remained the most commonly spoken additional language in both years, whereas German was the only category to remain unchanged.

In **2000**, 30% of students were unable to speak any language other than English. This figure rose to **35% in 2010**, making it the largest category in the latter year. Among those who could speak another language, **Spanish was the most popular**, accounting for 20% of students in 2000, followed by French at 15%. A further 10% spoke German only, while 15% could speak another unspecified language. The remaining 10% were able to speak two other languages.

By **2010**, the proportion speaking Spanish only had **halved from 20% to 10%**, while the figure for French only also fell, from 15% to 10%. In contrast, the percentage speaking two other languages **increased from 10% to 15%**, and the proportion speaking another unspecified language rose from 15% to 20%. The share of students speaking German only remained stable at **10%**.

Overall, therefore, the data indicates a **gradual shift towards students speaking either no additional language or multiple/other languages**, with Spanish experiencing the most noticeable decline.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 8.0

The response is excellent and fully addresses all requirements of the task. You have successfully identified the main trends and provided a clear overview of the changes between 2000 and 2010. The data is accurately reported, and you have made relevant comparisons, such as noting the decline in Spanish speakers alongside the rise in those speaking multiple languages. The information is well-selected, and the key features are highlighted effectively without unnecessary detail. The structure is logical, and the summary is balanced, covering all categories presented in the charts. This is a very strong performance that meets all the criteria for a high band score.

Coherence and Cohesion — Band 7.5

Your response is logically organized with a clear progression of ideas. Each paragraph has a distinct focus, moving from the introduction and overview to the specific details of 2000 and 2010. You use a variety of cohesive devices effectively, such as 'In contrast', 'By 2010', and 'Overall, therefore', which help the reader follow the narrative smoothly. Paragraphing is used appropriately to separate the different stages of your analysis. The flow between sentences is natural, and there is no evidence of mechanical or repetitive linking. The structure is coherent and supports the overall clarity of the report.

Lexical Resource — Band 7.5

You demonstrate a wide and flexible range of vocabulary, which is used with precision. Phrases such as 'remained stable', 'halved from', and 'gradual shift' show a sophisticated command of language suitable for an academic report. You avoid repetition by using varied terminology to describe the trends in the data. There are no significant errors in word choice or collocation, and the vocabulary is used naturally throughout the text. The range is sufficient to convey complex information clearly and accurately, meeting the requirements for a high band score in this criterion.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 8.0

Your writing displays a wide range of grammatical structures, including complex sentences and accurate use of comparative forms. The majority of your sentences are error-free, and your control over punctuation is excellent. You successfully manage the use of past tense verbs to describe the data from 2000 and 2010. There are no noticeable grammatical errors that impede communication. The variety of structures used—from simple descriptive statements to more complex comparative clauses—shows a high level of grammatical competence and flexibility.

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