Band 5.5 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer
Overall Band Score: 5.5 · Cambridge IELTS 11 · 2026-09-01
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 chart shows the proportion of British students at one university in England who were to speak other languages in addition to English, in 2000 and 2010.
Overall, pie chart indicates that in 2000, 20% of British students could speak Spanish only. 15% students speak only French and the same proportion (15%) of students speak another language. 10% students could speak only German and along with them, same number of students could speak two other languages, whereas 30% students could not speak any other language without English which is also the largest number of students.
Additionally, in 2010, 20% of students can speak French only, 20% students can speak only Spanish, 15% students used to speak two other languages, only 10% students can speak only German which is the lowest proportion of students and 35% students cannot speak any other language without English which is also the highest proportion.
AI examiner evaluation
| Criterion | Band |
|---|---|
| Task Achievement / Task Response | 5.5 |
| Coherence and Cohesion | 5.5 |
| Lexical Resource | 5.5 |
| Grammatical Range and Accuracy | 5.5 |
| Overall | 5.5 |
Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 5.5
The response covers the main features of the charts, identifying the proportions for each category in both 2000 and 2010. However, the analysis is somewhat mechanical, listing data points rather than synthesising them into a cohesive comparison. While you correctly identify the largest and smallest groups, the comparison between the two years is limited. To reach a higher band, you should focus more on the trends and significant changes (e.g., the increase in students speaking no other language) rather than just listing percentages. The overview is present but could be more analytical regarding the overall shift in language proficiency.
Coherence and Cohesion — Band 5.5
The essay is organised into three paragraphs, which is appropriate for this task. There is a logical progression from the introduction to the 2000 data and then the 2010 data. However, the use of cohesive devices is somewhat repetitive and mechanical (e.g., 'Additionally', 'whereas'). Referencing is generally clear, but the flow between sentences could be improved by using more varied linking phrases to connect the data points more fluidly. Paragraphing is used sufficiently, but the transition between the two years could be smoother to better highlight the comparative aspect of the task.
Lexical Resource — Band 5.5
The vocabulary is adequate for the task, allowing you to convey the necessary information clearly. You use terms like 'proportion', 'indicate', and 'lowest/highest' correctly. However, the range is somewhat limited and repetitive. There are some minor inaccuracies in phrasing, such as 'could not speak any other language without English', which is slightly awkward. To improve, try to incorporate more varied synonyms for 'speak' (e.g., 'possess proficiency in', 'are fluent in') and use more precise language to describe the data trends, such as 'remained stable', 'witnessed a decline', or 'accounted for'.
Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 5.5
The response uses a mix of simple and complex sentence structures. There are several grammatical errors, particularly with verb tenses and prepositions. For example, '15% students speak' should be '15% of students spoke', and 'cannot speak any other language without English' is grammatically confusing. There is also an inconsistency in tense usage between 2000 (past) and 2010 (present). While these errors do not significantly impede communication, they are frequent enough to prevent a higher score. Focusing on consistent tense usage and correct article/preposition placement will significantly improve your accuracy.
See this exact question answered at other band scores — the same prompt compared across bands.
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