Band 5.5 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 5.5 · 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 5.5)

Introduction

The pie charts illustrate the proportions of British students command on speaking other languages in addition to English at a university of England in 2000 and 2010 Respectively.

Overview

Overall, No other languages in the proportions accounted for the largest share, while the German Language Remains unchanged throughout the years.

Looking at the details, No other language made the largest part from 30 to 35 percentage by the years (2000 and 2010).

Meanwhile, Two other languages and Another language climbed Steadily by a small fraction up to 20 and 15 Percent from 15 and 10 percent respectively.

By contrast Spanish and French was Dipped Slightly to same proportion to 10% in 2010 from 20 and 15 percent Respectively. On the other hand the German only constitute to same 10 Percentage.

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 ability to fully develop the response. While you have identified the main features, such as the 'No other language' category and the trends for French and Spanish, the analysis is brief. The under-length nature of the essay means that the comparison of data is not sufficiently extended. To improve, ensure you provide a more detailed breakdown of all categories and ensure the response meets the length requirement to allow for a comprehensive summary of the provided charts.

Coherence and Cohesion — Band 5.5

The essay uses basic paragraphing and some cohesive devices like 'Meanwhile' and 'By contrast'. However, the logical progression is hindered by the brevity of the text. The use of cohesive devices is somewhat mechanical, and the structure feels disjointed due to the short, fragmented sentences. To achieve a higher band, focus on using a wider range of linking words to connect ideas more fluidly and ensure that each paragraph has a clear, unified focus that contributes to the overall summary.

Lexical Resource — Band 5.5

The vocabulary is generally adequate for the task but lacks the precision and variety expected at higher levels. Phrases like 'climbed Steadily' and 'Dipped Slightly' are appropriate, but there is a reliance on repetitive structures. There are also issues with word choice and capitalization, such as 'constitute to same 10 Percentage'. To improve, aim to use more sophisticated synonyms for trends and avoid unnecessary capitalization. Expanding your range of vocabulary related to data description will help you express comparisons more effectively.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 5.0

The response contains a mix of simple and some attempts at complex structures, but there are frequent grammatical errors. Examples include subject-verb agreement issues ('Spanish and French was Dipped') and incorrect preposition usage ('constitute to'). Punctuation is also inconsistent, with unnecessary capitalization throughout the text. While the meaning is generally clear, these errors are frequent enough to distract the reader. Focusing on basic sentence construction, subject-verb agreement, and consistent punctuation will significantly improve the clarity and accuracy of your writing.

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

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