Band 6.5 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 6.5 · Cambridge IELTS 11 · 2026-09-03

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 6.5)

The two pie charts illustrate the fraction of British students who were able to speak other languages apart from English in 2000 and 2010 at one university in England.

Overall, it is noticeable that the proportion of students who spoke no other language increased over the ten-year period. Spanish was the most common additional language in 2000 but its proportion fell considerably by 2010. Meanwhile, the percentage of students who spoke another language and two other languages rose in that period.

In 2000, the largest group, accounting for 30% consisted of students who spoke no other language. Spanish was the second largest category at 20% while 15% of the students could speak French. German was spoken by 10% of the students. 15% of the students spoke some unspecified language in addition to English and the remaining 10% could speak two other languages.

In 2010, the percentage of Monolingual students rose from 30% to 35%. The percentage of students who were able to communicate in Spanish halved from 20% to 10% and French declined to 10% over the period of ten years, while the figure for German remained unchanged at 10%. On the other hand, the proportion of students speaking another language increased from 15% to 20% and the students who were able to speak two other languages also rose from 10% to 15%.

In conclusion, we can say that although more students spoke no other language in 2010, there is also a growth in the number of students who could speak another or two other languages.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 6.5

The response effectively addresses all parts of the task. You have provided a clear overview of the main trends and supported these with accurate data from the charts. The comparison between the two years is well-handled, particularly in noting the decline in Spanish and the rise in multilingual students. The information is logically selected and reported, meeting the requirements for a Band 7.0. To reach a higher band, ensure that the 'main features' are highlighted even more distinctly in the overview, perhaps by grouping the categories that increased versus those that decreased more explicitly.

Coherence and Cohesion — Band 7.0

The response is logically organized with a clear introduction, overview, body paragraphs, and a conclusion. Paragraphing is used effectively to separate the data from 2000 and 2010. Cohesive devices such as 'Meanwhile', 'On the other hand', and 'In conclusion' are used appropriately to guide the reader through the information. The progression of ideas is smooth and easy to follow. The use of referencing is generally clear, though some minor improvements in the variety of linking phrases could elevate the flow further.

Lexical Resource — Band 6.0

You have used a sufficient range of vocabulary to convey the information accurately. Phrases like 'accounted for', 'remained unchanged', and 'declined' are used correctly. There is an attempt to use less common vocabulary, such as 'monolingual', which is appropriate for the context. While the vocabulary is functional and accurate, it is somewhat standard. To achieve a higher band, try to incorporate more sophisticated collocations or varied synonyms for 'proportion' and 'percentage' to avoid repetition.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 6.5

The response demonstrates a good mix of simple and complex sentence structures. Most sentences are error-free, and the grammar is generally accurate throughout the text. Punctuation is handled well, and there are no significant errors that impede communication. You have successfully used complex structures, such as 'although more students spoke no other language in 2010, there is also a growth...', which shows good control. The occasional minor slip does not detract from the overall clarity of the writing.

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

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