Band 6.0 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 6.0 · Cambridge IELTS 11 · 2026-08-31

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 6.0)

The two pie charts illustrate the percentages of British students who were able to speak languages other than English in 2000 and 2010.

Overall, the proportion of students who could not speak any other language remained the largest figure in both years and increased slightly. In 2000, 30% of British students spoke no other language, compared with 35% in 2010. The percentage of students speaking Spanish only decreased significantly from 20% to 10%, while those speaking French only also fell from 15% to 10% The figure for students speaking German only remained unchanged at 10%. However, the proportion speaking another language increased from 15% to 20%, and those able to speak two other languages rose from 10% to 15%.

AI examiner evaluation

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 score. While the report identifies the main features and makes relevant comparisons, the brevity prevents a fully developed analysis. The overview is clear, and the data is accurately reported, but the lack of sufficient length means the response is incomplete. To improve, you must expand your analysis by providing more detailed comparisons or by elaborating on the trends observed between the two years. Ensure you reach the word count to allow for a more comprehensive summary of the data provided in the charts.

Coherence and Cohesion — Band 6.0

The response is logically organized, with a clear introduction and a body paragraph that follows a logical progression. The use of cohesive devices such as 'In 2000', 'compared with', 'while', and 'however' helps to link ideas effectively. The paragraphing is appropriate for a short response. To reach a higher band, ensure that your transitions between sentences are even more varied and that you maintain this logical flow throughout a longer, more detailed piece of writing. The current structure is coherent, but the limited length restricts the demonstration of more sophisticated cohesive techniques.

Lexical Resource — Band 5.5

The vocabulary used is adequate for the task, with accurate reporting of percentages and trends (e.g., 'decreased significantly', 'remained unchanged', 'rose'). However, the range of vocabulary is somewhat limited and repetitive. To improve, try to incorporate a wider variety of synonyms for 'increase' and 'decrease' (e.g., 'fluctuated', 'plummeted', 'surged') and use more precise language to describe the data. The current lexical range is sufficient to convey the meaning clearly, but it lacks the flexibility and sophistication required for higher band scores.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 6.5

The response demonstrates a good level of grammatical accuracy, with a mix of simple and complex sentence structures. There are very few errors, and the punctuation is generally correct. For example, the sentence 'The percentage of students speaking Spanish only decreased significantly from 20% to 10%, while those speaking French only also fell from 15% to 10%' is well-constructed. To achieve a higher score, you should aim to incorporate a wider range of complex grammatical structures, such as passive voice or more varied subordinate clauses, while maintaining the high level of accuracy currently displayed.

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

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