Band 5.5 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 5.5 · Cambridge IELTS 11 · 2026-09-04

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 charts illustrates the percentage of British students who were able to communicate in languages apart from English at a university in England in the year 2000 and 2010.

Overall, the proportion of students in speaking Spanish was in lead as of other languages like French and German. There was also a large group of students who could not speak any other language besides English.

To begin with, the percentage of Spanish speakers were decreased by half in the year 2010 as there were 20% students in 2000 which reduced back to 10%. Almost the same happened with French language which was at 15% back in 2000 and falls down on 10% by 2010.

While, we can see a little bit of fluctuation in the ratio of students who could talk in German, another language and two other language. Lastly, the students who were not able to chat in any other language was in plenty about 30% and 35% in the year 2000 and 2010.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 5.5

The response covers the main features of the charts, identifying the trends for Spanish, French, and the 'no other language' category. However, the analysis is somewhat superficial. While you mention the decrease in Spanish and French, you fail to provide specific data points for the other categories (German, 'two other languages', etc.), which are necessary for a complete summary. The overview is present but could be more precise. To improve, ensure you compare the categories more effectively rather than just listing them, and ensure all data points mentioned are accurate to the charts provided.

Coherence and Cohesion — Band 5.5

The essay is organised into logical paragraphs, which helps the reader follow the information. You use basic cohesive devices like 'To begin with', 'While', and 'Lastly' to transition between ideas. However, some of these transitions are used awkwardly; for instance, starting a sentence with 'While,' is grammatically incorrect in this context. The referencing is generally clear, but the flow between sentences could be smoother. To reach a higher band, focus on using a wider variety of linking words and ensure that your paragraph structure supports a clear, logical progression of information.

Lexical Resource — Band 5.5

The vocabulary is adequate for the task but lacks the precision and variety expected at higher levels. You rely on basic phrasing such as 'in lead', 'falls down on', and 'chat in any other language', which are not entirely appropriate for an academic report. There is also some repetition of simple terms. To improve, try to incorporate more precise academic vocabulary related to data description, such as 'declined', 'remained stable', or 'accounted for'. Avoid informal phrasing like 'chat' when describing language proficiency.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 5.5

There are several grammatical errors that occasionally impede the flow of the text. Subject-verb agreement issues are frequent, such as 'The pie charts illustrates' (should be 'illustrate') and 'the percentage of Spanish speakers were decreased' (should be 'decreased'). You also struggle with prepositions and tense consistency. While you attempt some complex structures, they are often inaccurate. To improve, focus on basic subject-verb agreement and ensure your verb tenses are consistent when describing past data. Proofreading for these common errors will significantly improve your score.

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

Browse more IELTS Writing model answers or get your own writing scored by the same AI examiner.